THOSE of your readers who walk through the quiet and neglected graveyard that formerly belonged to St Peter’s Church, Hereford, may have noticed the resting place of John Venn and his sister Emelia; his aunt Jane lies with them. This great man did so much for the poor of our city from the time of his arrival as vicar in 1833. Although some of the buildings associated with him have gone the corn mill in Bath Street and the soup kitchen in Union Passage remain but in disguise. The Venn’s Close almshouses in Bath Street are a memorial to him and Venn’s Lane is where he had his home.

His grave is untended and the railings are missing and broken. It is the anniversary of his death on May 12, 1890 and those who want to pay tribute to him are meeting at his graveside (which is in St Peter’s burial ground under the arch in Commercial Road), to leave some simple garden flowers and a few reflections on his life and work. This will be on Saturday, May 10, at 11am, and anyone who wishes to join in is welcome. It may be that Herefordshire Council will feel moved to restore this monument to a fitting condition for one of the great benefactors to our historic city.

JEAN O’DONNELL, Aylestone Hill, Hereford.