News

Continued from the Cross of Sacrifice – Remembrance Sunday Ceremony at the Cross of Sacrifice and the Belgian War Memorial 9th November 2025.

FoSOC’s Remembrance Commemoration 2025 was, once again, in two parts, first at the Cross of Sacrifice led by Geoff Watts and afterwards at the Belgian Memorial with Graham Linecar, both members of FoSOC.  At the Cross, Geoff began by letting everyone know the very sad news that our President, the highly acclaimed and distinguished architectural and cemetery historian Professor James Stevens Curl had passed away on 5 November. Geoff paid a moving tribute to him and there was a silence in respectful memory.  We had the honour of our commemoration being attended by the Lord Mayor of Southampton, Cllr James Baillie, and distinguished guests. The Escort for the Lord Mayor was excellently   provided by Southampton Sea Cadets with their Commander, Lt. Lindsay Bassett RNR. Geoff recalled that this year marked the 80 th anniversary of the end of World War II with commemoration … Continue reading →

FoSOC have been very saddened to learn of the death, last Wednesday evening (5th November), of FoSOC’s President, Professor James Stevens Curl, peacefully at his home in Belfast. He has been our President, and a very good friend to us, from our very beginning, 2003. He and his wife Dorota took such a great personal interest in FoSOC and our activities at this cemetery, a place he regarded as a Treasure of Hampshire. He was always available and very willing to give his invaluable help and advice to us. He and Dorota came to our Remembrance Commemoration only just a few years ago. Our thoughts are with his wife Dorota, his daughters Astrid and Ingrid, and the family. We shall all miss him greatly and will remember a highly respected and lovely man.  Photo of bust; In September 2017, he … Continue reading →

Once the ceremony – 100th anniversary was concluded at the the Cross of Sacrifice, there was refreshments, Tea, Coffee etc.., and cakes, at the Non-Conformist chapel. This was much appreciated by all. Photos taken by Alan Smith Please note this event was held on the 13th September and submit onto the website the following day – 14th.

Honoured by the presence of the Lord Mayor of Southampton, Cllr. James Baillie, the Lady Mayoress Becky Baillie, Past Lord Mayor Cllr.. Jacqui Rayment, past Mayor Cllr. Alex Houghton, distinguished guests and members, FoSOC commemorated the centenary of the unveiling of the Cross of Sacrifice in the Old Cemetery. On behalf of the Chairman and Members of FoSOC, Geoff Watts welcomed everyone and reminded that the graceful design of the Cross was the creation of Sir Reginald Blomfield, one of the, then, Imperial War Commission’s architects and was adopted by the Commission for the Cross in its war cemeteries wherever it operates throughout the World. FoSOC has had, since 2012 a very close relationship with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and our Committee Member, Lizzie O’Sullivan, is now the dedicated ‘Eyes On Hands On’ (EOHO) volunteer, for the Commission at … Continue reading →

Once again FoSOC was pleased to see Starling Bank back at the Old Cemetery helping out, and what a good job they did. About 16 members of the Bank helped out yesterday (5th August) splitting into two groups. One group clearing one area, off the Yew Tree pathway, of ivy, bramble, and a few overgrown shrubs. Another smaller group was helping with the racking of the strimmed grass and packing it into bags, then taking the bags to the compost heap. All this was a great help to FoSOC, as you can see by the photos, plus FoSOC ‘taskers’ continuing with strimming areas and trimming hedging (checked for birds nesting beforehand) as well. Good days work achieved by all! Again, many thanks Starling bank.

Geoff and Jean’s Jane Austen themed walk explored people buried in the cemetery with a personal connection to the author, some who were in Southampton when she was here and others who later ran businesses established when, or before, she came to live in Southampton. Geoff also included men buried here who were involved with events in her lifetime, that would have been known to her, such as the Battles of Trafalgar and Waterloo.  One of those living in Southampton, quite close to the Austen family home, was a surveyor, John Doswell Doswell. He was involved with works being carried out to improve port facilities, that Jane would have seen in progress on her walks near the Town Quay area.  The cemetery walk concluded with those attending gathering close to the grave of Jane’s goddaughter. Jean spoke of her, and … Continue reading →

On Friday 11th July FoSOC held their Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the Non-Conformist Chapel. It had been a very HOT day but the Chapel was reasonably cooler than outside. There was over 23 members at the meeting. Billy Ferguson (Chairman) presented the meeting. Apologies were given by Professor Curl & his wife plus many FoSOC members who could not make the meeting. The proceed went through rather quickly, the Chairman was trying to beat his record of 30 minutes. However, all those that said they would continue on the Committee (except Geoff Watts who was Project/Publicity Officer & has step down from this post) were voted in plus two new General Committee Members. Later Billy Ferguson (still Chairman), spoke to the members on how much FoSOC appreciated Geoff Watts on the Committee & would be sadly missed. Applause was … Continue reading →

Yesterday afternoon (1st June) Lizzie O’Sullivan (FoSOC Guide) led a small but enthusiastic group of people and a dog, for her “Lives lost at sea” walk. The weather was dry, warm and sunny when we set off from the chapel to the first grave and stayed this way until the group reached the last grave near the chapel. Before the walk started Lizzie gave a very brief history of the Southampton Docks and explained how the docks developed into the modern day Eastern and Western docks and that there were stories involving both docks. Over the course of the walk Lizzie told the stories of 10 men who had met their deaths in various ways all involving a ship or the sea. The first grave was Daniel Flynn, an American sailor, who was entrapped in machinery. Then Michael Flynn (no … Continue reading →

Thursday 21st May another small group helped out in the Old Cemetery, these were from Starling bank again! There were at the same place as the last group from the bank and managed to remove more ivy/bramble from this area. As you can this has now opened up this area. Last photo show what the are looked like, now can plainly see the difference. Many thank for all your help.