More School Studies in Ryde Cemetery

Dover Park School continued their studies at Ryde Cemetery last week when a group of 23 of the more able writers and artists spent an enrichment morning there. Fortunately it was warm and sunny and the children, (aged 7-9) were armed with clip boards, notebooks, cushions, drinks and snacks.

The artists, led by teacher Jane Gardner, followed one trail with stopping points where they considered, ‘First Impressions,’ ‘Gravescapes,’ ‘Angels and Statues,’ ‘Buildings and Memorials’ and really anything else that caught their interest.

I led the writers on their inspirational trail, with stopping points to reflect on ‘When I come to this place,’ ‘Let the object speak for itself,’ ‘Stories from the grave,’ and ‘Then and now.’ We were all in a very relaxed mood so the writers too could explore ideas on anything else that interested them. The children thoroughly enjoyed the experience and produced some wonderfully creative pieces.

Back at school in the afternoon the children continued to extend and perfect their work. The artists used a variety of media including charcoal and paint. The writers used computers for final presentation, adding graphics they found on Google and some actual photos off the rshg website. Some also did their own drawings.

Isabel and Megan have given me permission to share some of their writing here on our website and on the Cemetery Open Day, July 6th there will be an exhibition of Dover Park’s cemetery work.

Kate MacDonell. (June 2008)

When I come to this place
Where the dead people rest
I see lots of pretty flowers
I hear bird song
I smell the fresh air
I touch soft green grass
I think of those people who died
I feel tearful
When I come to this place
Where the dead people rest

I am an old grey anchor that lays lonely. I have rusty chains on me and lots of little red flowers around me. I am just an old grey anchor.

Long ago there were lots of flowers and trees and no graves but now there are lots of graves. Years ago there was a bell on the church and lots of gardeners but now there is no bell and no gardeners. This is a quiet, peaceful place today and long ago it was too.

By Megan (age 8)

When I come to this place
Where people rest in peace
I see long wavy grass
I hear lovely birds tweeting
I smell beautiful dog daisies
I touch hard kerb stone
I think of falling asleep
I feel sad and gentle
When I come to this place
Where people rest in peace

GRAVE NAMES
Here lies
Robert, Lily,
Fred, Frederick.

At peace now
Alexander, Thomas,
Sabra, Sarah.

In memory of
Ellen, Priscilla,
John, James.

Long ago there were lots of gardeners
And now it has only a few
But now everything has overgrown
Years ago they had a big bell rising up to the sky
But now it has gone
There used to be a few graves
And lots of flowers
Today all the weeds go mad
And long ago they did that too

By Isabel (age 7)