We have heard of the concept of ‘fans for life,’ but lovers of D.H. Lawrence have proven that fandom endures beyond that.
A group supporting the writer has worked with the local council in Eastwood, Nottinghamshire, to restore the writer’s family headstone. Eastwood is where the Sons and Lovers author spent his childhood, and the grave is considered a pilgrimage for D.H. Lawrence fans everywhere.
It is a landmark in the area but has recently fallen into a state of disrepair. Work equalling around £1,000 was needed to restore it to its former glory.
A fans group, The D.H. Lawrence Society, managed to raise £800 towards the project, with the Borough Council providing the remaining £200.
Dr Andrew Harrison, director of the D.H. Lawrence Research Centre, discussed the importance of the upkeep of the grave with the BBC.Â
He said: “[It commemorates] not only the author’s life but that of his brother William Ernest, who tragically died of erysipelas in 1901 at the age of 23, and the lives of his mother and father, who died in 1910 and 1924 respectively. The D. H. Lawrence Society is proud to have contributed to the upkeep of it.”
Alan Wilson, chairman of the D.H. Lawrence Society, also spoke of the pride the group has in being part of this development.
He said: “We are thrilled to have this monument restored so beautifully, serving as a visual symbol of the legacy of D.H. Lawrence, his family, and a close connection with the Eastwood heritage.” There will now be a ceremony at the graveside with representatives from the D.H. Lawrence Society and Borough Council attending.
