More tributes to ‘caring’ Mary
A senior German official has paid tribute to the Sunderland grandmother who tended his country’s war graves.
Mary Reid, who cared for the plots in Castletown cemetery for more than 60 years, passed away this month.
Mary, who was chairwoman of the Castletown section of the Royal British Legion, regularly visited the ten German graves.
In November she received the German War Graves commission’ s highest honour – the Gold Cross of Honour – from Military Attache of the German Embassy in London, Col Jörg Rütten, and Honorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany, Mrs Manuela Wendler.
Col Jörg Rütten said: “I am very saddened to hear of Mrs Reid’s passing.
“Having met her personally only a few months ago I came to know her as a deeply caring and loving person.
“In an act of reconciliation that stands out as exem- plary, she tended for graves of German servicemen she did not know personally.
“As I said at the time, Mrs Reid illustrated to us all the need for reconciliation, peace and, above all, ‘not forgetting’ and remembrance.
“My thoughts are with her family and loved ones.”
A funeral service will be held at Sacred Heart Church at 10.30am on Friday, February 9, followed by cremation.