Friends of Southampton Old Cemetery - fosoc

18/05/2026

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 the cemetery was explained by Val. She also recalled how the Boer War memorial, at one time damaged and in three pieces, had been restored by FoSOC some years ago.

The visit concluded with everyone having a chat, with a drink and biscuits, outside the former Non-Conformist Chapel. It was a very relaxed occasion and we were delighted to have been able to take our Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress on the tour.

16/05/2026

16/05/2026

Thank you to everyone who helped make the 180th Anniversary of the Old Southampton Cemetery such a grand day out.

We are especially grateful to all who supported the event, as well as to members of the public who joined us to see the Lord Mayor of Southampton, James Baillie, the Bishop of Wi******er, Philip Mounstephen, and, of course, the Town Crier, Alan Spencer, open the celebrations behind the Wessex Sea Cadets band marching, and a bit later perform for a further 30 mins, within the old cemetery.

The day featured a wonderful programme of events. The Southampton Health Choir, followed later by the Shantywomen, performed in the Anglican Chapel to a full house. Visitors also enjoyed a free cuppa and cake in the Non-Conformist Chapel after Geoff Watts gave his talk, A Porch to Eternity. There were also two guided walks: the first, led by Graham Linecar, explored the structure and history of the cemetery; the second, led by Phil Budd, focused on the trees and shrubs that have grown there since 1846. All three were greatly supported by the public.

The event ended on a high note with Mike Blatchford and the Haze Band, who delivered an hour and a half of lively mixed music that had the audience dancing. Once again, thank you to everyone who took part, helped behind the scenes, and came along to celebrate this special anniversary.

Additional photos may be found on our website https://fosoc.org

11/05/2026

A Personal 'Thank You' from Founder Chairman, Geoff Watts

May I express my very grateful thanks for the kind reception yesterday - at the Cemetery's 180th - of my talk, 'A Porch of Eternity', and for the generous response to it when I concluded. All greatly appreciated.

Due to a 'Technology Gremlin' I was unable to show the pictures I had put together. These included some relating to Professor Curl and, as promised, they are attached to this posting. The talk was in memory of our late Founder and, so far, only President. He came to see us on several occasions, all the way from Belfast, and on two of those we had the additional pleasure of welcoming his wife, Dorota.

Professor Curl chose Hampshire as his final resting place, specifically St Peter's Church in the the charming village of Soberton, to the east of the Meon Valley road. The delightful church contains a Curl Chapel, Walter Curl (sometimes Curle or Curll), buried there, being a former Bishop of Wi******er 1632-1646. I suspect there may be an ancestral connection.

In addition to being an eminent, internally acclaimed, architectural historian and distinguished expert on cemetery history, he was also a talented artist. Some years ago, his Christmas Card was a painting of Soberton Church. He asked the church to put postcards of the painting on sale to raise funds for the church. A copy of the painting is attached. When we visited the church it was a 'coffee and cake' morning in the adjoining hall and we were made extremely welcome.

Professor Curl is buried in the peaceful, very well maintained, churchyard to the west of the church. My picture shows a view of it. Away to the left (the west) is open land and, on the horizon, the ridge on the western side of the Meon Valley road. The grave itself has, at the moment, a low polished wooden cross with brass plate. The ground is still settling so a headstone, that will be to his own design, will not be placed there until that has completed. We intend to make a further visit.

I understand that the stone will have a Latin inscription that translates as:

May you rest well and peacefully and may the earth lie lightly on your bones.

Thank you, James, for all you did for us, for your deep and continuing interest in both the Old Cemetery ( a 'Treasure of Hampshire') and FoSOC, and for your most helpful advice.

Requiescat in pace

07/05/2026

The Cemetery has turned
ONE HUNDRED – AND EIGHTY!!!

FoSOC will be celebrating this on Sunday 10 May with the event being opened at 10am by the Lord Mayor of Southampton, the Bishop of Wi******er and Southampton’s Town Crier.

It is a free event with entertainments, a talk, (pre-booking is advised via our website, as space is limited), and two walks.

The opening ceremony takes place just inside the main gates at the end of Cemetery Road.

Friends of Southampton Old Cemetery: https://fosoc.org/

03/05/2026

180th Anniversary

A Very Sincere 'Thank You', On Behalf Of The Founders

John, Veronica and I, who came together to found FoSOC in 2003, very much hoped that it would last but obviously did not know what would happen!

It is with thanks to all who have been involved with the progress of FoSOC that it remains a most important part of Southampton community based life.

We help care for the cemetery, covering both the historic and the natural history. Initially, and until it closed, we worked along with the Hawthorns Centre. May I express our gratitude to Hillary Bradley for all the interest she took, and the help she gave, to what was then a fledgling group? Grateful thanks, too, to Heather White and staff at Bereavement Services with whom we have such a close relationship. We are very grateful to the City Council for the use of the former Non Conformist chapel as our centre and meeting place here in the cemetery.

When we started we did not have a library, or an exhibition, and it is thanks to the work of Val and her helpers that these now exist in the former Non Conformist chapel. Billy and Val are coming up for their 14th anniversary as Chair and Secretary, respectively, having so ably led FoSOC.

We remember, with much appreciation, those members of FoSOC who so readily supported our work but who have passed away and cannot share with us the 180th anniversary.

Thank you to all who are able to donate, and have donated to us over the years. All money we receive is used for our work in the cemetery. Our events are always free so they are open to everyone.

If you would like to come and help with our Task Days, maintaining the cemetery, please do contact us and we can arrange to meet you at the cemetery. To be involved with the work, you will need to become a member so that you and we have insurance cover.

Thank you to all who have read the recent posts about FoSOC's cemetery history. I do hope you have found something there of interest, perhaps something of which you were not previously aware. If you have been reading the posts, and are not a member, please do consider joining us.

Geoff Watts
A Founder, and Founder Chairman, of FoSOC.

Sketch: The Non Conformist Chapel. © Bernard Lavell and Friends of Southampton Old Cemetery (FoSOC)

29/04/2026

180th Anniversary

This is how the Daily Echo publicized our cemetery anniversary 10 years ago.

It was a lovely day being out in the sunshine and being entertained. FoSOC members look forward to welcoming you this year on 10 May.

27/04/2026

180th Anniversary

'A Magnificent Man....'!

In 2010, we commemorated the 90th anniversary of the death of Southampton pioneer aviator, Edwin Rowland Moon - a true Magnificent Man In His Flying Machine - and the centenary of his flight at, what is now, Southampton International Airport. That was the first successful powered flight in this area.

There was a procession to the grave, a gathering, service, speeches, poetry and wreath laying. Our picture shows Canon Gary Philbrick and members of Southampton and Eastleigh Branch of the Royal Air Force Association, (on whose behalf we arranged the service), at the grave.

Edwin Moon was killed in 1920 in a flying boat accident at Felixstowe and in 2022 we commemorated that centenary with a service, speeches and wreath laying at the grave. We were honoured by the attendance of the Mayor, Cllr Alex Houghton, At this commemoration, Standards were carried and the procession was led by the band of Southampton Sea Cadets.

In 2010, the wooden propeller marker at the grave was deteriorating due to weathering. FoSOC member, Bruce Larner, treated it with preservative, and looks after it, so it is there for visitors to see. Thank you Bruce. At Remembrance each year, a Poppy Cross is placed here as we do at all World War related graves in the cemetery,

A few years before 2009, our Chairman had met David Maber and shown him the location of the grave at the cemetery. David, in conjunction with Edwin's cousin, Roland, wrote a booklet biography about Edwin Moon. Generously, David gave FoSOC the copyright in the book, that we still produce. Copies can be purchased from FoSOC at https://fosoc.org/membership-publications/.

24/04/2026

180th Anniversary

A new headstone for a highly respected Scot

Charles Rawden Maclean, otherwise John Ross, was originally from Fraserburgh in Scotland. He died on a ship coming into Southampton in 1880 and was buried in the cemetery, the grave being unmarked.

In 2009, in conjunction with Fraserburgh Heritage Centre, funds were raised to provide a headstone for the grave. The memorial was dedicated that year and we were honoured by the presence of Southampton Mayor Brian Parnell.

In 1825, John Ross was part of the crew of a ship wrecked at Port Natal (modern day Durban) and became part of the community there. He came to be on very good terms with Shaka, King of the Zulus.

Aged 12, John Ross undertook, with the help of warriors provided by King Shaka, a hazardous 600 mile round walking journey from Port Natal to the Portuguese settlement of Delgoa Bay. This was to acquire badly needed medicines for his community. His name is honoured in Durban with a statue, and a building, a highway and a bridge named after him.

For the dedication of the new stone, a procession to the grave was led by a Piper and the Sea Cadets Band, and a service was conducted by the Rev. Stephen Wilkins. We had the pleasure of the company of Iain Rankin from Fraserburgh and Zulu expert and author Ian Knight. The stone, and the story of John Ross, are often featured on our walks in the cemetery.

Pictures: Cover of Order of Service and the stone.

17/04/2026

180th Anniversary Talk at the Cemetery

The Talk at the cemetery on 10 May, as part of the 180th Anniversary Celebrations, will be titled: 'A Porch of Eternity' and will be given by Geoff Watts of FoSOC.

More information, and the booking site for the talk, can be found by going to Upcoming Events on FoSOC's website:

We are a group of enthusiasts interested in the history, wildlife and maintenance of the Old Cemetery in Southampton, Hampshire UK.