The final resting place of Everton author and oracle Thomas Keates became the latest grave to be rededicated by the Everton Heritage Society in a dignified ceremony at Anfield Cemetery last Saturday.
The service was attended by three surviving members of the Keates family, Everton officials, members of the Heritage Society and several Everton supporters.
“If you know your history” has long been an Everton mantra, but we know so much about the early history of Everton Football Club because of the work of Keates.
Ninety-five years ago he conceived, researched and wrote the original Jubilee History of Everton Football Club, preserving in print some invaluable information about the origins and development of our Football Club.
His work started as a pamphlet entitled “From Church Club to Champions”, initially intended for distribution at the Jubilee celebration banquet, but was developed and added to until it became a thorough 172-page exploration of the early years of the football club he served as a director from 1897-1901.
Since reprinted it is still available today.
Keates’ grave rededication was the 11th performed by the Heritage Society up and down the country. Others have included the final resting places of FA Cup winning goalscorer Alex ‘Sandy’ Young in Edinburgh, captain of our first title winning team Andrew Hannah and legendary Everton administrator Will Cuff.
Saturday’s ceremony was attended by Keates’ great great grand-nephew David Keates, his daughters Laura and Sarah, great great great grand-nieces of the esteemed Everton author and Everton FC ambassador Ian Snodin.
Jamie Yates, who discovered the neglected stone and plot in Anfield Cemetery in 2020, lying face down on the turf, opened the service while violinist, Daniel Axworthy, played Hearts and Flowers by Alphons Czibulka, the music played at Everton’s Jubilee celebration banquet in 1928.
Everton Chaplain Rev Henry Corbett read an introduction, before Ken Rogers, Chairman of the Everton Heritage Society, gave a reading about the life of Thomas Keates, Everton’s Communications Manager David Prentice gave a reading about Everton FC and Anfield Cemetery then Sarah Deboe read an excerpt from Keates’ History of Everton Football Club.
Jamie Yates concluded the ceremony by reading a Keates feature entitled “A Wander Through Walton” before a reception at Isla Gladstone in Stanley Park.
