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Friends of Southampton Old Cemetery (FoSOC) – will be closing down for the ‘Festive Season’ will effect from 12th December 2022 and reopening 9th January 2023. The next ‘Task Day’ is Tuesday 10th January. There will be no admin, this means email and phone request will not be dealt with from the dates shown above. Many thanks for all the members of FoSOC who have worked extremely hard this year and going that extra mile to make the Old Cemetery look very pleasurable for the public to walk through.

Two ‘Task Day’ mornings FoSOC was planting, the 24th November, a Thursday, after another week of more wet weather and the following Tuesday 29th. Two members from the Friends of Southampton Old Cemetery (FoSOC) planted around 850 Crocus corms which were kindly given to the Friends, from the Southampton Solent Rotary. The Friends had hoped for some help from Southampton Solent Rotary but it seemed the days clashed with other events. Eventually with the help of these extra Crocuses (Clausentum, had planted some last year) there will be an appearance of a carpet of purple flowers, when entering the Old Cemetery. Many thanks to Nick Brant and Huw Thomas for their help. Photos taken by Bruce Larner (FoSOC)

On a lovely afternoon, with the Sun shining on the Cross of Sacrifice, FoSOC held its annual Remembrance Commemoration. FoSOC wishes to express gratitude to everyone who came to this event, a very special one this year as we were honoured by the presence of the Lord Mayor of Southampton, Cllr. Jacqui Rayment, and her Consort, Marcus, and FoSOC’s President, Professor James Stevens Curl who had come from Belfast, with his wife, Professor Dorota Iwaniec, specially to be with us. Remembrance is always in two parts: firstly at the Cross of Sacrifice, just inside the main gates, then moving to the Belgian Memorial, where there are buried wounded/very ill soldiers from that country brought here to hospitals, in and around Southampton, some of whom found their final rest here, others at the military cemetery at Netley Abbey and at South … Continue reading →

Once again, for the second time this year the Geocachers were welcomed by FoSOC to the Old Cemetery. This time about 26 came to help out, cutting down branches from trees, for much clearer sightlines plus removing ivy from headstones and clusters of small growing shrubs. A lot of work was achieved and a well earn cuppa and biscuits were very welcome refreshment. Lucky the rain held off, otherwise it was a warm and sunny. Many thanks to all of the Geocachers for their help this morning. Photos – latter ones show the work achieved this morning.

On Thursday the 13th October FoSOC had help from the Ordnance Survey – a group of 10, very keen and enthusiastic people. They helped with the removal of ivy from headstones, saplings and bramble from just behind the Anglican Chapel and the pathway near to John Ross. They stay from 10.00 am, with a break at 12 (noon) and continued for another hour or so afterwards. They probably would of stayed longer but the FoSOC members wanted to get home. The group were a pleasure to work with and do hope that FoSOC see that again…very soon!

This morning at 10.30 am a group of FoSOC members gathers by the Cross of Sacrifice to lay a wreath in remembrance of Queen Elizabeth 11. There was a minutes silence before the wreath was laid. All there were sadden by the death of our beloved Queen. Photos by Bruce Larner

Yesterday, the  4th of September, FoSOC guide Lizzie O’Sullivan took a group of nineteen people on the final tour of themed walks and the final one for FoSOC for this year. Next walk will be Titanic in April 2023. We heard the stories of Southampton people who died directly and indirectly as a result of the bombs dropped on Southampton during WW2. Here are just a few. Earnest and Eliza Lanham and their daughter Freda and cousin Charlotte, who was staying the night with the Lanhams in their house in Alexandra Road, took a fateful decision not to go to the shelter when the air raid sounded that night but stayed in bed. A bomb crashed through the roof of their house killing Ernest and Eliza in their bed and Charlotte in the rubble. Miraculously, Freda who was in the back … Continue reading →

On a warm sunny Friday morning (26th August), Val and Billy Ferguson, Julia Wetherall, Bruce Larner and Sheelgah Horton, all on behalf of FoSOC attended the dedication of Arthur’s bench to Arthur Jeffery who died in 2021. A much-loved campaigner to the green spaces and heritage. A long-time member/Chairman of the City of Southampton Society (CoSS) and a member and tasker for FoSOC. A beautiful green has bench installed in Lovers Walk which is a footpath across the common, linking the Avenue to Burgess Road. This was attended by family, friends and colleagues from both groups who recalled many stories of Arthur’s life. If you are ever walking through Lovers Walk, please, pause, sit on Arthur’s bench and take in surrounding, the lovely green space Arthur so loved.

Just a few photos to show how much has been achieved by FoSOC in the Old Cemetery this year! All the areas that can be seen by these photos have been strimmed only by FoSOC. However, it also shows how HOT it has been by the grass now yellow and turning into straw. Of course, there are still areas that have not be strimmed since last year, however, FoSOC can only do so much!! FoSOC do their very best to maintain some of the twenty-seven acres, which is near on impossible for the group and at times it is a losing battle with ivy/bramble/nettle and even grass!! But the photos do show FoSOC has been very busy!!

Today (18th August)  FoSOC welcomed (once again) to the Old Cemetery the Geocachers. This group has been many times into the Old Cemetery helping out , which they love doing. Once again, the group of nineteen persons tackled the ivy on Grade 11* wall, this time to the right when approaching the Hill Lane gate. They removed the ivy from both sides , out in Hill Lane and in the Old Cemetery. The different can be seen in the last photo of the cleared wall. They also cut down some saplings growing near to the wall. A lot was achieved as can be seen from the photos. Hope to see the Geocachers again……soon! Till then many thanks Geocachers for your help, very much appreciated by FoSOC.