I walked through the cemetary several weeks ago and was dismayed by the sheer number of graves that have not been attended to for a long time.

Never mind vandals – a vast number of the head stones were broken down, unreadable and many not even sitting straight any more, through sheer neglect.

The words were faded beyond recognition, the stones were cracked and chipped, and only a very small number looked well cared for.

Why is it that only a mindless act of vandalism has brought the decay of this cemetery to our attention?

Where are the families of the hundreds of graves that are buried under trees and plants, or the stones that are in such bad condition they leave no clues as to who lies beneath them?

I understand many of them are over 100 years old, but even so you would think some basic care could be given to maintain them at an acceptable level.

I would certainly encourage future generations of my family to care for the graves of my grandparents which I presently maintain, even though they won't have known them.

As Tom Wye rightly stated, in countries such as France or Belgium this would not be allowed to happen – and in many poorer eastern European countries graves are so lavishly maintained and cared for with a real respect shown to the dead with no expense spared.

I feel that while it is positive people are now showing an interest in the cemetery and want to improve it, questions should have been raised many years ago about the state of it and the individual graves within.

Let us all try to ensure other cemeteries do not decline in the same way Broadwater has, and be left to suffer until some thoughtless yobs come along and make it worse before it can be made better.

Ironically, the act of said yobs has done Broadwater Cemetery a favour.

Sam Robinson
Orchard Avenue,
Worthing

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