A CEMETERY where one of the founding fathers of British medicine is buried will be preserved for future generations, thanks to a new group.

The Friends of Astwood Cemetery formally came into being on Thursday to look after its future and safeguard its past.

The group was formed at a meeting at St Barnabas Church, Green Lane, Worcester.

The idea was born following talks between history enthusiast Pam Hinks and Elaine Bullock of stonemasons Astwood Memorials.

Mrs Hinks, aged 51, of Bisley Close, Warndon, Worcester, laid her father Charles Rouse to rest in the cemetery in January and regularly visits and tends the graves of 15 members of her mother's family buried there.

Mrs Hinks, who has researched the history of the cemetery in depth and examined its records, estimates there could be more than 200,000 people from Worcester buried there.

One of Worcester's most famous sons, Sir Charles Hastings (1796-1866), a founder member of the British Medical Association, who was knighted by Queen Victoria for his services to medicine is buried there.

The Charles Hastings Education Centre at the Worcestershire Royal Hospital, mainly funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, is named after him.

Mrs Hinks, who hopes to look after the history side of the group, said she would try and get sponsorship from the British Medical Association to help maintain the grave as a site of special historic significance.

She added: "Our aim is to preserve heritage and keep the history of our local people alive. The people buried there are the key to history - the people in there are what makes the history of Worcester."

The formal aims of the Friends are to enhance the cemetery as a place of remembrance, increase awareness of it, preserve it as home for trees, plants and wildlife and as a place of historical significance.

The cemetery was consecrated in 1858 when churchyard burial grounds had become overstretched.

The first person to be buried in the graveyard was a six-week-old baby, John Ryan, who died on October 9, 1858.

About 20 acres of land was donated to the people of Worcester by William Laslett.

More information can be discovered about the history of Worcester at the website www.worcesterpeopleandplaces.com.

Much of the research for the website was completed by Bill Gwilliam who in 1998 was awarded the MBE for his work.

He had close links with the Worcester News and Michael Grundy's Memory Lane features.

Mr Gwilliam died on September 27, 2002 aged 90.