Preface (Part I)

In 1987 I became aware that some years previously Mary Hall and Tony Limb had begun a project to record details from the gravestones at St. Kenelm's Church, Romsley. In view of the continuing deterioration of some of the inscriptions in the older parts of the cemetery, it seemed desirable that the recording should be continued before details were lost for ever.

Thanks to the enthusiastic co-operation of the Rector, the Reverend Martin Clarke, and the late Eric Jackson, our Chairman at that time, it was possible to make an early start.

Progress has not been rapid. However, work has continued and with the incentive of this being our Society's Silver Jubilee Year, it is now possible to publish this record of all the tombstones in the older part of the graveyard.

It is intended to continue with the project and record details of all the gravestones in the other parts of the cemetery. As our President, Joe Hunt, has pointed out in his comprehensive Introduction, even the newer stones will be old and possibly indecipherable one day.

My thanks go to Joe for his scholarly Introduction, and also to Norman Jones for additional information. Thanks are also due to the following Members who have helped with recording and checking the information: Mary Holder (Chairman), John Brown, June Humphreys, June Shepherd, Rita and Trevor Sidaway.

Eric Humphreys
February 1991