Brenda Chamberlain

[DianeE]

Does anyone know the location of the grave of Brenda Chamberlain,( painter, poet and writer)?
She died in 1971 and was buried with her mother who was a former Mayor of Bangor.
Many thanks

[David Price]

Brenda Chamberlain was buried at Glanadda Cemetery, Caernarfon Road, Bangor in a large family grave in the prominent central section which was reserved for local notables - mostly councillors and academics. According to my notes, also buried in the grave were her maternal grandparents Caesar Corlett Cooil and Elizabeth Cooil, and there are inscriptions to two of their sons who were killed in WWI.  My notes don't mention Brenda's parents (F.T. and Elsie) but you need to double-check the grave.

Brenda's inscription reads:
 BRENDA CHAMBERLAIN/ 11th July 1971/ Artist, Writer, Poet/ "I was born to live/ born to die" .

Last year a plaque was placed on her birthplace  at Euston Road, Bangor.



David Price

[DianeE]

Many thanks David. I can go and look now. Also thanks for the info. re. the plaque, I wasn't aware of that.
Regards,
Diane

[David Price]

Hi Diane

In order to locate the grave, go to the south-east edge of the large circular plot at the centre of Glanadda Cemetery, where along-side the path you see the grave of Sir Henry Lewis, Belmont.  The Chamberlain/ Cooil grave is three graves in from that, between Th.E. Whitlock and Wm. Fenn.

I'm told that Jill Piercy (of Aberystwyth?) is writing a biography of Brenda Chamberlain.

Regards

David

[warrenk]

I was pleased to find this post, as I wanted to find her grave after having read her book Tide Race while I was on Bardsey. I found Sir Henry easily enough, but the grave three in was for the Coates family, with Becks and Edwards on either side. I couldn't see a Chamberlain anywhere.

I went back today after double checking the names and found it. Her grave is also along side the path, just two plots to the left from Sir Henry Lewis. Her inscription is on the very bottom of the base of the cross, and it is around the back, so you wouldn't see it if you just walk along the graves looking at the front (as I did!)

Here's a picture of the grave. Her family grave is under the cross on the left, and Sir Henry's is the low profile one at the right.  It's in a sad state, with the top slab all broken up.



Here's her inscription:



Warren

[David Price]

Sorry, I should have been more precise in giving the location of the grave, but in my first post, I had mentioned that it was the grave of Brenda's grandparents and other members of the Cooil family.  Does anyone know where Brenda's parents were buried?  Elsie Chamberlain was Bangor's first woman mayor, and a staunch socialist.

David Price