Grave Concerns

As you read this, I should be at Bristol at Crimefest, in its new venue. My chairing event should be over, and I'll be looking forward to being on a panel with somebody called Zoe and some bloke called Stan or Michael or something like that.

Last week we were in London, and we set off  to fulfil one of His long held ambitions. He wanted to see the grave of Karl Marx as he studied him so much at Uni. Going along with the theme, I wanted to see the memorial of Spike Milligan because he made me laugh so much.

Here's me interviewing Spike on his memorial seat.

The seat is covered with little carvings representing aspects of his life. The elephants represent both his love of animals and his childhood in India.

The smaller figures holding his nameplate represent his years doing his national service in the army.

The faces of the soldiers are those from characters in his best selling book Hitler, my Part In His Downfall.

This looks like some goons to me- Mr Peter Sellers, Michael Bentine and Harry Secombe.

Bentine?

Sellers?

Secombe?

Eccles and Seagoon?

Comedy and Tragedy to celebrate a life in  the theatre. 

Spike himself - Terence Alan Milligan

Off to a different cemetery, Highgate to the grave of Karl Marx.

A lot of quiet respect. A few foreign tourists respectfully standing in front of it,  fists up in a gesture of solidarity for the common man, the working man.

Always fresh flowers here.

It was always rumoured that across from Karl Marx's memorial was that of Herbert Spencer, and here is the proof.

That will be very amusing to British types, not sure if the rest of you will get why Mr Marx being buried so close to Mr Spencer is rather chortlesome.

This grave has the words 'spread a little happiness as you go by across the top.'

A lovely memorial to a writer- any writer.

I think there is a whole short story, or a novel waiting for Sally.

                     The memorial to  the brains behind the great train robbery, Mr Bruce Reynolds.

It says it all, quiet and simple.

I loved this statue.

The collection of biros and the small sperm whale show exactly who was laid to rest here.

Because all biros go somewhere to die- that's why you can never find any.

And a dolphin 'So Long And Thanks For All The Fish.'

Highgate cemetery is very pretty.

I loved thus grave, a carpet of white and to the side, a young woman, frozen in stone, sitting and waiting.

I wonder if he used up all his words in life.

The grave of Jeremy Beadle, British prankster and comedian.

The godfather of punk.

Memorial for the London Fire Brigade.

This grave is nothing special but it's marked on the map because of this...

The sculpture of her dogs head within the memorial stone.

And a modern take on the gravestone.

From a distance, it looks lovely.

Close up, it's heart breaking.

And fine fellow sits and watches over his owner's final resting place.

As he did in life, until the dog himself passed away.

Caro Ramsay10th May