COLLECTOR OF EPITAPHS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 2, 4 January 1937, Page 6

COLLECTOR OF EPITAPHS

Collecting epitaphs is the hobby of Mr. A. Blackburn, of the Salvation Army Hostel, Bradford. In eight years he has copied from gravestones, in and around Bradford, the names and epitaphs of more than 200,000 people. His record, which is used by the Bradford public libraries as an official one, is valuable, for Bradfordians make many inquiries about the epitaphs of their dead ancestors, and, since Mr. Blackburn commenced his record, many of the sayings on the tombstones have become unreadable. Both summer and winter are busy times for Mr. Blackburn, for in summer he commences his graveyard travels, copying the various epitaphs from the stones into his notebook, and in winter he occupies himself with writing out the official record for the library. Mr. Blackburn has found many interesting and amusing epitaphs. For instance, in Baildon parish churchyard, he discovered that the founder of the parcel post lay buried. His epitaph read: "Alexander Atkinson, son of Robert and Hannah Atkinson, writer, reformer, founder of the parcel post and workmen's tickets, author of a scheme of old age pensions, who died December 12, 1907." One of Mr. Blackburn's many amu» I ing epitaphs runs: "Respected bj Minnie, hated by few, lived 71 years then bade adieu." ;