Why there is no photograph of Dr. Bach's headstone on this website

This is a short personal account of my attempt to take a photograph of Dr. Bach's final resting place - for inclusion on the History of Bach Flower Remedies page of this website.

During 21st-24th July 2003 I participated in the Bach Centre's Level 3 (Practitioner Training) Course at Mount Vernon in the Village of Brightwell-cum-Sotwell, Oxfordshire, England. This location was local to where I was living at the time so not only could I conveniently drive to Mount Vernon each day, but I could also easily visit anytime - and I had done so during the previous weeks.

Having never visited Dr. Bach's grave, I resolved to do so during the week of the course. I carried a digital camera everywhere with me at the time to photograph flowers (see right), so plentiful in fields, hedgerows and so on at that time of year.

On the morning of Monday the 21st July I walked along Bell Lane to Mount Vernon and took the photograph that appears at the bottom of this page, of St.James' Church, Sotwell. I decided to look for Dr. Bach's grave on my way back to the car that afternoon, and perhaps take a photograph that may be suitable or inclusion on the History of the Bach Flower Remedies page. That evening I walked around the churchyard many times, studying all of the headstones in the hope of finding the one I was looking for - but without success. Disappointed, I gave up for the day, deciding to ask someone at Mount Vernon for advice about where I should look when I returned the next day. At home later in the evening my family admired some of the many photograhs I had taken of flowers, Mount Vernon, and the village of Brightwell-cum-Sotwell. I transferred those photographs from the camera to my computer (clearing the camera memory card), and also plugged in the various cables to re-charge the camera battery overnight.

On Tuesday 22nd July the course resumed, I mentioned my search the previous evening and was given a verbal description of where to look. Confident that I would now be able to visit Dr. Bach's resting place, I searched again - even more thoroughly than on the previous evening - but still without success. I also kept getting a persistant thought that the camera was the "problem" ... I told myself not to be silly !

Eventually I sat down by the church wall, unpacked my bag and checked each of the books I had bought that day, hoping for confirmation that I was in the correct churchyard but none of them mentioned it. Having carefully checked many sinking headstones, some now resting at odd angles, some barely readable, and others becoming obsured by brambles, eventually I gave-up for the second time. I still had the feeling that if I hadn't got my camera with me, and so definitely wouldn't take any photographs ... then I would find the headstone. I took a philosophical view of that thought as I could easily call into the village on some occasion when I was passing without a camera; I was no-longer even thinking about including a photograph for the webpage, but was becoming somewhat frustrated ! Back at home that evening, I transferred the day's photographs to my computer (clearing the memory card) and I plugged the cable into the camera to re-charge it's battery.

On Wednesday 23rd July, Judy Howard took the group on a guided tour of the garden at Mount Vernon, pointing out some of the flowers used to prepare the remedies. She then gave a beautifully illustrated talk about the history of Dr. Bach's work at Mount Vernon, and it's continuation by Nora Weeks, Victor Bullen and others, up to and including the present Trustees of the Bach Centre.

During this presentation we were shown a clear photograph of Dr. Bach's resting place in St.James' Churchyard, Sotwell. I had no idea how I could possibly have failed to find it !
We were informed that this is occasionally tended by gardeners from Mount Vernon, but only to clear weeds so that visitors can find their way to pay their respects, because Dr. Bach did not want to be celebrated for himself and would prefer the minimum of fuss. (There was now absolutely no-doubt that I would be able to see for myself on my way home that evening.)

A couple of hours later I was outside in the lane and the garden during the lunch-break taking a few more photographs of flowers. I heard a familiar sound from the camera and, looking down, saw the display indicating insufficient battery power to take any further photographs. At that moment, I remembered two things: (1) that, while tired the previous evening, I had connected the power cable to the camera but had completely forgotton to connect the plug at the other end of the cable to the electrical socket in the wall, and (2) that now I would certainly be able to find Dr. Bach's headstone, but as those thoughts the previous evening had suggested ... only without a working camera !

That evening I walked from Mount Vernon via the churchyard, as had become a habit. As indicated by the photograph I'd seen earlier in the day, Dr. Bach's resting place was very easy to find immediately: Upright, well-maintained, and complete with large clear lettering. I thanked him for his beautiful gift to us all and made my way home.

The next day I didn't take any photographs at all, and although I could easily do so anytime, I won't be submitting any such photographs for use on this website because I feel that I have received a gentle but firm request not to do so.

Let's concentrate on appreciating the value and benefits of the remedies themselves.