HEWITT'S HISTORY FILES

- in Sussex, at least - aren't confined to simply names and dates.

No, they open up a whole world of earthy sentiments frequently vented as the departed are commended to the afterlife.

David Arscott, author and graveyard devotee, has spent many a happy hour scrabbling among lichen-spattered gravestones, constantly stooping to decipher weather-worn inscriptions.

The results are certainly worth it, as he shows in his latest volume, Dead & Buried In Sussex incorporating his earlier book What The Vicar Saw (Pomegranate Press, 8.50, ISBN 978 0 954 897550).

It's the first-ever book on the county's abundant churchyard heritage - and also a timely book.

David makes the point that with the passing years, increasing numbers of epitaphs are legible only with persistence and good light.

It all adds up to a celebration of life, death and graveyard humour, with often a chilling note thrown in. "You're next" is a frequent theme. A rather bleak verse could once be seen outside Chichester Cathedral.

For full feature see West Sussex Gazette July 11