Photo Ban at Whitby's Gothic Graveyard

On 3 October 2011, on Radio 2 Paddy O'Connell sat in for Jeremy vine,he discussed the news that visitors have been banned from taking also posing for photos at "Dracula's Cemetery" in St. Mary's Church, home to the Whitby Gothic Weekender event.l listened and here is my view along with one other.



Ruth in Leeds has been to Whitby Gothic Weekender and sent this email:



"I can't believe that the church has decided to ban people form having their photo taken in the churchyard! This is just another example of the narrow minded attitude of the mainstream church, not taking the time to sit down with the Goth community and actually understand what they are all about.

I can understand if it is disrupting the peace of the place, there are rather a lot of us at Whitby Goth Weekend, and we tend to swamp the place, or if there is any damage being done to the graves, but not simply out of discrimination.

I have always enjoyed wandering around the church (dressed in full Goth), because I feel a spiritual christian peace there, I love that church.

I thought that the mainstream church might have been more embracing of us, after all, the amount of revenue it brings to Whitby at either end of the tourist season is substantial!"


l had mixed view from own experience of this weekend
the cavorting around gravestones,almost naked is distressing.but the glamour makeup costumes and attitude of the whole group has been really good.
it just a small minority who like myself should respect the wishes of the diseased families.
Again the Church who have shown a lot of tolerance get criticised for not allowing something that is actually disrespectful.