FRIENDS BEDFORD CEMETERY. INTERESTING GRAVES

THE GRAVE OF CHRISTOPHER NEIL MLYNARCZYK

THE BOXER

A grave that has intrigued many of us for some while is that of Christopher Neil Mlynarczyk. He is buried in plot H7, on the left hand side, close to the path that leads up to the well known Wyatt enclosure.

We have done some research on him and discovered he was born in 1951, and died aged 21 years. As his grave depicted a boxer, we thought he may have died in a boxing accident. Looking into the local papers of that time we have put together his life.

He lived in King Edward Road with his parents Stefan and Dorothy. He was a talented boxer who boxed under the name of ‘Destar’. He was an amateur, who only turned professional one month before his death, and had his first professional fight two weeks before that. He was tipped to have a great future in the sport.

He had boxed from the age of 14, first at Goldington Road Secondary School and then joined Bedford Boys Club. He trained every day and had had 135 amateur fights, of which he won 80. Two years before his death he won his way through to the final of the

National Association of Boys Clubs Championship, but lost on points. He had been picked to represent Britain against America. His trainer, Paul Kine, said of him

“Chris was a fine boxer, who showed a great natural ability and we had great hopes for him. He was a good all-rounder and his death is a sad loss”. His death was sadly prosaic, as he was killed on the way to the Co-op shop where he worked as Butchery Manager.

It seems probable that his father was Polish, and could perhaps have been one of the Polish Armed Forces that came to this country at the start of the 2nd World War and married an English girl. His father Stefan died on 5th August 1981 aged 61 years and his mother Dorothy Elizabeth died on 28th July 1991 aged 77 years. If anyone knows more about Christopher we should be delighted to hear from you.

THE GRAVE OF FRANCIS
HENRY DRAPER FREEMAN.

THE ORGAN BLOWER.

The following was the report in the local paper of his death.
“On Tuesday January 24 1882 there passed away from among us one whose services though of the humblest, were so faithfully and heartily rendered that they would seem to deserve a recall in our columns.

Francis Henry Draper Freeman, for more than 15 years, organ blower to Holy Trinity Church was well known as a most enthusiastic lover of music in his way. He was rarely absent from any organ opening or recital, and his criticisms on music and musicians generally, were often as shrewd as they were uncompromising .The pride he took in the organ and choir of Holy Trinity, and his devotion to Mr Diemer was very remarkable, while to his ‘pupils’ on the organ as he called them, he performed his duties most faithfully and took a liveliest interest in their progress.

He was put into his grave last Saturday, when the Rev G.A.Willan performed the ceremonies. Several of the Trinity Church Choir were present and flowers were thrown on the coffin. Last Sunday Mr Willan made a very feeling allusion to Henry after the morning sermon, and after the service the poor fellows favourite hymns were sung. In the evening Mr Diemer played the dirge from ‘Bethany’ before the service and’ The dead march in Saul’ afterwards.

One of the hymns being ‘Brother thou hast gone before us’ also from ‘Bethany’. To use Mr Diemer’s words ‘ A more devoted blower than poor Henry never existed."

It is now very difficult to read the engraving on the stone which is of a very fine shape.It does however recall that Henry was organ blower to the church for 15 years and died at the young age of 34.

The stone was paid for by the choir and organist, which explains who Mr Diemer was. The grave is situated in the higher area of the cemetery, not far from The Wyatt enclosure.