Monthly Archives: May 2026

On Sunday, 17 May, FoSOC had the pleasure, of taking our Lord Mayor, Cllr. James Baillie and Lady Mayoress, Mrs Rebecca Baillie, on a walk in the Old Cemetery.  Unfortunately, our Chairman was unable to be present as he was feeling unwell.  The walk was led by Geoff with committee members Val, Lizzie and Alan.  The tour featured cemetery history, architecture and layout, and  included the Perkins family, FoSOC’s stone commemorating all in the cemetery who have no memorial, the Volunteer Ambulance Corps Boer War memorial, Richard Andrews, Rev. Hubert Napoleon Dupont and Lt Colonel William Hewett of Waterloo memory. Lizzie O’Sullivan then took the group further on and related the stories of Edward Bist, John Peake and Henry Rose. Geoff concluded with a Titanic story at the grave of Alderman Frederick Dunsford.   On the way, the conservation, and information, work of FoSOC in … Continue reading →

On Sunday 10th May, starting at 10.00am (finally finished at 5.30pm) an event was held at Southampton Old Cemetery to mark the 180th anniversary of the cemetery. The Programme was hosted by the Friends of Southampton Old Cemetery (FoSOC), supported by Bereavement Services, represented by Heather White FICCM(Dip)(Hons), Service Manager/Registrar, Bereavement Directorate (Environment and Resident Services). The event began with the arrival of the Town Crier, Mr Alan Spencer, followed shortly afterwards by the Right Reverend Philip Mounstephen, Bishop of Winchester, accompanied by his wife Ruth and their dog, Noggin. The Lord Mayor, Cllr James Baillie, and the Lady Mayoress, Beccy Baillie, arrived soon after. The Town Crier then announced the Wessex District Sea Cadets Marching Band, who led a short procession with the Lord Mayor, the Bishop of Winchester and FoSOC Chairman William Ferguson. After the band halted, the … Continue reading →

After the Lord Mayor James Baillie and the Right Reverend Philip Mounstephen, Bishop of Winchester, gave an address and a pray the Wessex District Sea Cadets continued to entertain visitors for around 30 minutes. Bandmaster, S/Lt (SCC) Pete McCullagh RNR, Unit Training Officer Southampton Sea Cadets, DSO – Bands Wessex District Photos taken by Tim Burden

At 11.00 am, everyone assembled in the Anglican Chapel for a performance by the Southampton Health Choir. A large gathering filled the Chapel including the Lord Mayor of Southampton James Baillie, his wife Becky, the Right Reverend Philip Mounstephen, Bishop of Winchester, accompanied by his wife Ruth and their well behaved dog, Noggin. Photos taken by Bruce Larner & Tim Burden

At 12 noon, a talk was held at the Non-Conformist Chapel, titled ‘A Porch of Eternity’, and given by Geoff Watts. This was also a talk in honour of the late FoSOC President, Professor James S Curl, and a personal ‘thank you’ from Geoff Watts. The Professor passed away in November 2025, a great loss to FoSOC. Unfortunately, the laptop and USB stick were not compatible, and Geoff did deliver the talk without pictures, as with a radio broadcast. There was a very good, attentive audience that filled the chapel, and the talk was very well received. Photo taken by Bruce Larner

At 1.00pm the Shantywomen entertained a large audience in the Anglican Chapel, for 45 minutes with many a sea shanty.

10th May 2026 1.00pm the Non-Conformist Chapel was turned into a ‘Café’. Refreshments supplied FoSOC with many members supplying handmade cakes and biscuits. This was very well received, by all. Photos taken by Tim Burden

At 1.50pm was the first walk Guided by Mr Graham Linecar. Before setting off, an explanation of the national importance of the Old Cemetery as an early example of a municipal cemetery where the original structures survive, and ‘scene setting’ about Southampton in the 1840s. We looked at the approach road from The Avenue, the Main Gate and Lodge. From the yew tree path, we looked at a section of what we think is the original iron railings on a dwarf brick wall on the 1840s boundary with The Common, and the race course. We looked at the Anglican chapel, and the carved stone heads under the eaves. We walked along the main cross-carriageway and noted the sweep to the doors of each chapel. We looked across the valley talking about the landform before the cemetery and looked at the … Continue reading →

Sunday 10th May at 3pm Walk led by Phill Budd Phil pointed out the low growing Bottlebrush Buckeye from the southeast USA, not yet in flower, in the southern area, and the nearby Wellingtonia (Giant Redwood) which is currently leaning to the north at the same angle as the Leaning Tower of Piza. The group learnt that there used to be an Eastern Hemlock Spruce where the Wellingtonia is now located, but that former tree died in the 1980’s. Like many trees from the eastern USA our winters aren’t cold enough nor the summers hot enough for them. Near the end of the   walk, Phil amused the crowd by quoting Alan Mitchells comments on his least favourite tree – the Red Horse Chestnut – now fully in bloom. Regarding the flowers most of the spring species were now finished for … Continue reading →

Finally at 4.00pm the last act of the day Mike Blatchford and his band the Haze. This was outside under the large gazebo an brought the cemetery alive and was very well attended . There were people dancing and cheering. They finished at 5.30pm. Photos taken Bruce Larner and Magen Sharp