We’re not equal even in death

Egalité? Non!

It appears there is no longer a place for this sacred principle in Sarkozy's brave new republic.

At least not in the little town of Lodève in the Languedoc.

You are no longer entitled to be equal there, not even in that ultimate of level playing fields, the cemetery.

When my wife died, she was buried in our local cemetery.

We had lived on the hillside overlooking the cemetery for almost twelve happy years and had purchased our burial plot with a grand view to our cherished garden.

During our travels through France we had sometimes come across cemeteries with a simple plaque over the entrance engraved with the word Egalité and we always thought this a fitting and salutary message to all who passed by.

So I thought it would be entirely appropriate to ask permission of the local mairie to erect such a plaque to the outside wall of the Lodève cemetery as a memorial to my wife who believed fervently in equality for all the living all through her all-to-short life.

Alas, this was refused and this was perhaps the final straw which led me to return to England.

Their reasoning was that I might be setting a precedent. Not very convincing I think, as this precedent was established over 200 years ago.

I was not seeking to create a precedent but rather to continue a tradition. I shall try again; perhaps they will change their minds, perhaps we shall have a new mairie one day who believes in Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité.

I would be grateful to hear from any of your readers who know of cemeteries with that inscription. There are lots and lots.

Graham Chadwick
Bolton