Matz's Grave restored

Following a talk by our former HGS, Paul Graham, at the Central Dickens Fellowship meeting in March 2025, it was decided that the Fellowship should fund the restoration of the much dilapidated grave of Bertram Waldrom Matz (1865-1925).

Matz was the first Honorary General Secretary (HGS) of the Dickens Fellowship, our President from 1920-21, and Honorary Editor of The Dickensian from its inception in 1905 to his death in 1925.

Although he died within months of its opening to the public, Matz was also responsible for the Fellowship's purchase of Dickens's former home at 48 Doughty Street for the purposes of creating The Charles Dickens Museum.

With much research by Paul, Dr Ruth Richardson and Helen Howe, the restoration of his grave was achieved within Matz's centenary year, and, to mark this, a small commemorative celebration was held at the graveside on 5 December 2025. 

During the restoration, it was discovered that Matz's wife, Alice (1869-1932), is buried in the same grave.