Cemetery is tidy (From Evesham Journal)

11yrs ago pershore cemetry was no where as big as today....
and all the local cemetries (nearby as you state,that are untidy)are all overseen by pershore town council,Evesham,Malv
ern,Tewkesbury all have beautiful cems....not surprising when there not run by Pershore Lib Dems.

I have read the comments on facebbook with interest, as I also have parents, grandparents, and my sister buried in the cemetery. I am also a former resident of Pershore, and as the cemetery staff are unable to answer the issues raised themselves, I have some comments I would like to make.
The current grounds-man has been employed at the cemetery for 35 years, the only change being the person employed in the position of Town Clerk. There have been five town clerks since Andy Purvis began working at the cemetery. For the past few years there have been issues regarding replacement and purchase of equipment and tools, even to the point of having to share one mower between one full time and one part time member of staff. For example a second strimmer was purchased, suitable for a small domestic garden, when the requirement was for a heavy duty industrial machine. There seems to be considerable delays in purchasing replacement tools and equipment, including mower blades, essential to mow the grass! Previous reliable suppliers no longer supply tools or equipment, and delivery from current suppliers is often delayed, or does not happen at all. Requests for grass seed and spray to control weeds on paths has been turned down, through lack of funds, or delayed, until the weeds were out of control, all of which is not under the control of Andy Purvis, the groundsman. Regarding part-time helpers, even though one position was vacant from 1st January, 2012 the new employee did not start until May, 2012 well into the mowing season, working on a basis of 15 hours a week, he has also been unable to fulfil all of his hours due to heavy rain causing further delays. The delay in his starting date appears to be another cost saving exercise.
In answer to comments made about Andy collecting his children from School, the arrangement was made under a flexible working agreement which all parents can enter into with their employer, and is with the full consent of the Town Clerk. The time taken off is made up during the working week, and time sheets are completed and handed to the Town Clerk, and no doubt available for inspection if anyone would like to check. In addition I can confirm Andy finishes his working week at 12.30 on Fridays, having completed his contracted hours, I thought this might need clarifying as there also seems to be some interest regarding him not being at work on Friday afternoons.
A further point regarding staffing, there is no cover for the Cemetery staff when they take holidays. In May this year the groundsman had to cover another employees job in the town for two weeks, as well as trying to do his own job at the Cemetery, following which he took one week’s holiday, therefore hardly any mowing, strimming, tidying was completed for three weeks during in May. He was however expected to catch the work up on his return.
The situation has been, to say the least frustrating for the staff at the Cemetery. In addition there have been comments made regarding Andy’s ability to do the job, just to inform those concerned a few years ago Andy suffered a heart attack, for which he now takes daily medication. Five years ago he had a very bad fall at work, whilst cutting the hedge at the front of the Cemetery, causing permanent damage to his knee. I realise this will not interest most people, but Andy could have retired on ill health grounds some time ago, but chose not to, and instead of going on the benefits system, which some people may be familiar with, instead, he chose to stay on doing a job he enjoyed, under extremely difficult circumstances. He has taken pride in looking after the Cemetery even with lack of tools, and equipment, some-times having to use his own tools to get the job done.
He is however due to retire next year, but due to the stress brought on by the comments made against him and his family on facebook, in what appears to be something of a witch hunt, that date could well be brought forward, which I am sure will make some people very happy!

Andy Pervis has bin a grand dedicated groundsman and curator for 33yr,the last 2yr the ptc have not supplied the man with approiate or sufficient tools,labour,or workforce,also sent him to work elsewhere then return to his backlog of work still unsupplied of tools ,n materials ........i"m inquisitive to what qualifcations management have in groundworks or landscaping or if they have ever worked hands on the project to realise outlining problems.from day one no one has doubted andys capability,dedicatio
n in the cemetery,RIGHT MAN FOR THE JOB.The stress this curator has had to bear has no doubt reflected on his ill health,keep up the good work andy ....PERSHORE POWER ARE ON YOUR SIDE.X