Friends of Southampton Old Cemetery - fosoc

07/09/2026

Some of you may have noticed a huge pile of yew branches around the Belgian War Graves area off the Yew Tree Path in the cemetery and wondered what was going on.

This was not something done by either FoSOC or the Council but rather by a member of the public clearing, and cleaning, a specific grave.

We have no issues at all with anyone who wants to maintain a family grave.

However, in this instance, in our view the amount of the Yew Tree that was cut back was disproportionate. To then just leave a heap of brash over the Belgian war graves for someone else to clear up is also disrespectful.

We don't have a large volunteer force and to have to devote about 12 man hours to clear up this mess had taken us away from the other work that we are doing, which is more than a little frustrating.

08/08/2026

Apologies!!!

The talk tomorrow will take place at 11am - and not 2.pm as indicated on the original poster.

Many apologies for any confusion or inconvenience.

But hope to see some of you there at 11am 😊

22/07/2026

Please find attached our poster for a new upcoming talk in the Non-conformist Chapel.

Please note due to unforeseen circumstances walks/events can be cancelled or postponed.

Check out FoSOC’s website on fosoc.org for all future events, updates & amendments/alternations etc

16/07/2026

IMPORTANT

Please note that the Jane Austen walk has been cancelled, since we received no bookings, probably due to the extreme hot weather.

11/07/2026

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

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