Civic leaders and VIPs joined Arnos Vale fundraisers for a recent Night at the Cemetery event to help secure its long-term future.
Invited guests included the Lord Mayor of Bristol, Councillor Clare Campion-Smith, High Sheriff of Bristol Helen Wilde and Mayor George Ferguson. 
The event raised more than £15,000 towards the Lifetime Appeal – some £7,852 on the night which was matched by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to make a final total of £15,704.
The evening’s entertainment focussed on a number of acts with links to the historic cemetery – having either performed at Arnos Vale in the past or with family ties – and included Totterdown Chango Drummers, pictured, local musician Sophii Negus and magician Adam Richards. There was also a charity auction and raffle.
The HLF will continue to match all donations into the Lifetime Fund up to £500,000 until the end of June. The aim is to create a £1m endowment and provide a lasting revenue source to pay for the upkeep of the Victorian Garden Cemetery.
Arnos Vale Cemetery Trust chief executive Mike Coe said: “The event went better than we could have imagined with over £15,000 added to our Lifetime Fund.
“So many guests commented on what a community treasure Arnos Vale Cemetery is and got to learn a lot more about the history of the site as well as donating to the cause.
“This event was preceded by an unbelievable pledge of £25,000 by our own Friends of Arnos Vale Cemetery group, many of whom were involved in the original campaign to save the site, which means we have now smashed through the half million mark for the fund.”
For more information on how to donate to the Lifetime fund or on the history of Arnos Vale Cemetery visit www.arnosvale.org.uk
