A Birmingham campaigner has appealed for couples to stop engaging in sexual activities within a city graveyard, describing the behaviour as 'undignified and disrespectful'. John Gilmore, who works to protect cemeteries, said thrill-seekers were having 'endeavours and encounters' late at night at Yardley Cemetery and Crematorium on Clay Lane.
Campaigner's plea for respect
In a video posted on his Facebook page, Gilmore urged those involved to cease immediately. 'I've been informed there's shenanigans, hanky pankies going on along this stretch of Clay Lane,' he said. 'Late at night where people are going into the cemetery and having endeavours and encounters, which is not what should be going on inside a cemetery.' He appealed directly to the individuals: 'Find an alleyway, find a park, book a hotel room - do it somewhere else. Please don't do it inside a cemetery. It's most undignified and disrespectful to those who have passed away.'
Disrespectful setting
Gilmore emphasised the inappropriate nature of the location. 'You're not on a large comfortable bed with a beautiful chandelier hanging from the ceiling, with scented romantic candles around the room glowing in the dark and you're not listening to soft music,' he said. 'It's not the most beautiful setting to be with your lusts and urges.' He added that he had alerted West Midlands Police to the issue, though a force spokesperson said no reports of this nature had been received in the last week.
Campaigner's concerns
Gilmore said he did not wish to patrol the area at night with a torch to catch offenders. 'The last thing I want to do is go down there late at night with a large torchlight shining into the cemetery to see if people are up to unnecessary business,' he explained. He reiterated his call for respect across all UK cemeteries, stating, 'Please do not access a cemetery to do that behaviour because that is totally wrong and disrespectful. There's absolutely no need for that in a cemetery, so please stop.'
