The following article appeared in Middlesbrough Evening
Gazette Monday, July 5th 2004. Click to see
accompanying photo
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Our History Destroyed
Man's Heartbreak as he finds 68 Jewish Headstones Vandalised
by Gareth Lightfoot
A Teesside man has spoken of the heartbreaking moment
he found his great-grandparents' headstones wrecked after vandals
went on the rampage in the Jewish section of Linthorpe Cemetery. [Ed
note: the Old Cemetery]
In that part of the graveyard, off Burlam Road, 68
out of 78 headstones had been pushed over and smashed in a shocking
series of attacks. But police have said that the destruction which
took place about two weeks ago, was not being treated as
anti-Semitic.
Mr Reubens, 48, and his 12 year old
daughter, Rachael, found their ancestors' stones in pieces in a
scene of "total devastation" last Wednesday. The father-of-four from
Ormesby said: "To stand there in the middle of this vast mess was
just horrendous. Our eyes just filled with tears. It was as though
they'd attacked us rather than the graves
"It's our ancestors. I used to teach my kids about my
past and where they came from. That's been destroyed. You could
count the standing gravestones rather than those which were smashed.
These yobs had just gone wild. I think its more racist than
anti-Semitic. I think it's purely and simply because it's something
that looks very different, the writing on the graves was in Hebrew.
They've certainly been picked out above the other ordinary graves. I
think they need educating more than anything."
Inspector Geoff Elms from Cleveland Police said: "This is
not being treated as anti-Semitic vandalism. However the area is
secluded and we are aware of a number of youths who frequent the
cemetery on evenings. Extra Police Community Support Officers have
been implemented in and around the cemetery in order to monitor and
control the situation."
A council spokesman said: "Any damage in any cemetery is
disgraceful. When one particular section or faith appears to be
targeted that is doubly offensive. I am sure that every decent
person in Middlesbrough will join me in condemning the idiots who
did this. We all hope they are caught quickly and are dealt with
severely. Our street wardens are working closely with the police and
have already been able to pass some useful information to them. We
are vigilant and will be more so after this event. By their nature,
cemeteries are difficult to protect and can't be policed 24 hours a
day. That is why we need members of the public to be our eyes and
ears".
Ed note: The stones were photographed by Bernard
Bookey just two weeks before this destruction took place. Click
here to see the Old
Cemetery headstones. David Simon has spoken to the Mayor, Ray Mallon, who
visited the Old Cemetery before discussing the matter in the
Middlesbrough Council. We understand that CCTV surveillance cameras
have now been installed at the cemetery in an attempt to improve
security.
STOP PRESS: For a
provisional list of the damaged gravestones, see
list part 1
list part 2
