Town clerk turns to ‘hubby’ to help solve a grave issue

Actually, over and above is not quite the right terminology. Instead, it should be ‘down and below!”

The council owns and maintains Horncastle Cemetery on Boston Road.

Last week, there was a burial scheduled.

However, when both the council’s maintenance workers were unable to finish digging the grave, clerk Amanda Bushell and husband, Paul, stepped into the breach.

Mrs Bushell explained: “The grave had been ‘half-dug’ the previous day but had to be finished off.

“Stuart (Goodacre), would have done it with the help of someone from Louth.

“However, Stuart had to go into self isolation overnight, because of the pandemic.

“I spoke to the Louth person and he said he was still willing to come.”

However, strict health and safety rules mean digging a grave has to be a two person job, at least.

Normally, Mrs Bushell is occupied with complex council issues, from agendas and minutes through to financial matters.

At first, she considered pulling on her wellies herself only to remember she had already volunteered to give blood at a donor session at Stanhope Hall - at the same time the cemetery work had been scheduled for completing.

She quickly ‘nominated’ husband Paul who is the caretaker at the town’s Banovallum School.

After checking with the school, and with shovel in hand, Mr Bushell helped finish digging the grave - and back-filled it after the funeral.

Mrs Bushell was full of praise, adding: “It’s not the nicest job in the world but it had to be done.

“If Paul hadn’t been available, I don’t know what we’d have done.

“Hopefully, one of our councillors would have come forward to help but quite a few of them are self isolating.”

Mrs Bushell and other council staff members have also been busy performing other volunteer roles.

She - and husband Paul - have helped deliver prescriptions in the evening, working alongside Mayor Coun Fiona Martin.

Deputy clerk Michelle Moss is helping deliver free breakfast parcels to children.

In addition, Mrs Bushell and Mrs Moss are helping residents who contact the council asking for help about a variety of concerns and issues.

Mrs Bushell said: “We’re doing everything we can.

“Sometimes, we can’t offer direct help but if that happens, we always try to point people in the direction of organisations that can.”