A Bridge Between Two Worlds

1. A Bridge Between Two Worlds Leonie Kellaher The Cities Institute London Metropolitan University Title given to one of the chapters in our book The Secret Cemetery which looks at the ways people use cemeteries in Britain today. We took into account people who had come to live in Britain - notably in London - and the special meanings that burial places hold for groups such as Cypriots, Jewish people, Irish born individuals and families and, more recently settled here, Bangladeshi and Gujurati people. There are, of course many other groups, now settled here, from other places but it is probably fair to make some general observations as to how more or less recently arrived people thin about the final resting places of their family members and countrymen and women. Title given to one of the chapters in our book The Secret Cemetery which looks at the ways people use cemeteries in Britain today. We took into account people who had come to live in Britain - notably in London - and the special meanings that burial places hold for groups such as Cypriots, Jewish people, Irish born individuals and families and, more recently settled here, Bangladeshi and Gujurati people. There are, of course many other groups, now settled here, from other places but it is probably fair to make some general observations as to how more or less recently arrived people thin about the final resting places of their family members and countrymen and women.

2. Cemeteries as Ethnic Homelands �Home is where your loved ones are - dead or alive� Greek Cypriot woman visiting a grave at New Southgate Cemetery The cemetery enables those separated through migratory dislocation - as economic migrants, refugees (as in the case of this woman) or through other forms of exile - to forge new connections with their places of origin. This is a Greek cypriot woman visiting a family graveThe cemetery enables those separated through migratory dislocation - as economic migrants, refugees (as in the case of this woman) or through other forms of exile - to forge new connections with their places of origin. This is a Greek cypriot woman visiting a family grave

3. Repatriation??? First generation�s identity may be rooted in the homeland; With the second generation this is less clear-cut; Third generation children are firmly rooted here and this, in turn, roots the first generation. Some - but by no means all - refugees or migrants may have this choice But political circumstances and finances often rule this out. There are other brakes on repatriation however as we can see from these people�s comments : NEXT SLIDESome - but by no means all - refugees or migrants may have this choice But political circumstances and finances often rule this out. There are other brakes on repatriation however as we can see from these people�s comments : NEXT SLIDE

4. Or burial here??? �When I go there (Ireland) everyone knows who I am, but now there are grandchildren - here - it would split he family to be buried back home.� �Who knows me well enough(in Bangladesh) to visit my grave for a while - if not for ever? Irish grandfather settled in London since 1950�s Bangladeshi first generation labour migrant.Irish grandfather settled in London since 1950�s Bangladeshi first generation labour migrant.

5. Replicating an original homeland cemetery �This is now a small part of Cyprus. Look all around - on a bright, sunny day you could forget you�re in a foreign place� Important to continue the customs of the community.Important to continue the customs of the community.

6. Here a site for muslim burials - not ideal - and newer sites are being opened that express a community�s standards more fully.Here a site for muslim burials - not ideal - and newer sites are being opened that express a community�s standards more fully.

7. Marking the grave InscriptionsInscriptions

8. Safety in Ownership �I bought the plot so that she can have something more secure�she wanted to visit her parents� graves but� we hear horror stories of what they did to that little village cemetery.� This speaks for itselfThis speaks for itself

9. Perpetuating community We�ve come to see their grandfather - we come with the children - they must know their family is here as well as at home.� �It is important to remember our past.� �I am here to pray for myself and all who are buried here.� As well as these family visits - three generations, on special days large groups come and �feel � their origins .As well as these family visits - three generations, on special days large groups come and �feel � their origins .

10. Death in Exile Cemeteries act as magnets drawing ethnic groups together - on special days and in memory - creating a sense of communal homeland. Transmission of collective memoryTransmission of collective memory