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Our Next Working Party will be on the
1st December 2018
Our last Working Party of 2018 will be on
15th December 2018
Remembrance Service's 2018
Friday 9th November 2018 Service
Two days before the centenary of the ending of the first world war.
The FODC held their remembrance service for the schools in Darwen.
The service was really well attended and was particularly poignant as the Last Post and Reveille were played live, as the wreaths were laid the 79 names of the war dead buried here was read out.
Thank you to all that took part.
They shall not grow old as we that are left grow old
Let us not forget
So proud of all the school children who joined us today for our Remembrance Service in Darwen Western Cemetery.
Photographs by FODC Members
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Sunday 11th November 2018 Service
Well Darwen you did us proud.
On the 11th Day of the 11th month at the 11th hour, the peace treaty was signed to end the carnage of the first World War.
Exactly one hundred years to the day people from all over the world are paying their respects in their own way.
In Darwen cemetery we held our service of remembrance, on Friday the service was for the school children. today it was the guides and scouts and over 250 people of our community attended in awful weather.
Thank to all that attended the service and many thanks to all of those who contributed to make this service a success.
This service is a true team effort and could not happen without your help.
Particularly thanks to Rev Terry Young for officiating once again.
Photographs by FODC Members
Remembrance Service's 2018
This year's services will be commemorating the Centenery of the end of the First World War.
We will be holding the services at our New World War One Memorial Wall in the Western Cemetery.
Friday 9th November 2018
As usual our First service will be held on Friday morning,
the 9th November.
This Service is held on the Friday to allow the Local Schools to attend,
we will meet at the World War One Memorial Wall at 10.30 for a 10.45 Service.
Following the Service the children attending will go into the Cemetery and place Poppies on the 98 Commonwealth War Graves in the Cemetery.
This is a very well attended and moving service with all the children attending from the majority of the Primary and Secondary Schools in Darwen!
Sunday 11th November 2018
Our Second Sevice will be held on Sunday 11th November.
We will meet at the World War One Memorial Wall at 10.30 for a 10.45 Service.
In the past this Service has been attended by Local Scout and Guide Groups and is a very popular Service.
This Service has a more formal feel with all the Flags being lowered at
11 O'clock
Attended by many Local Residents.
FODC October 2018
FODC 70's 80's and 90's Disco
On saturday 27th October, the Friends of Darwen Cemetery held it's 3rd 70's, 80's and 90's Disco and we raised £537.
Thank you so much for all who attended for buying raffle tickets and dancing the night away.
Special thanks goes to The Sweet Shop and Vintage Tea Room for sellling tickets for us.
And to Brian Davies from Audiotec for excellent music as always.
FODC November 2018
Our New Road Signs for our WW1 Memorial
Just in time for the Remembrance Day Services in a few weeks time, we have had two Brown Road Signs errected on Cemetery Road outside the Lodges Entrance into the Western Cemetery.
We would like to thank Blackburn with Darwen Council who have kindly organised the design, manufacture and for them to be errected.
If you have still not seen our World War One Memorial, pop in to the Cemetery and come and have a look.
FODC October 2018
70s, 80s and 90s Disco
On Saturday 27th October the Friends of Darwen Cemetery will be holding our 3rd 70s, 80s and 90s Disco
It will be held at Hollins Grove Conservative Club
Tickets are £5.00 per person and are available from:-
The Sweet Shop (outside Darwen Market) 4, Croft Street,
Darwen BB3 1BQ
Auditec, Unit 2, Progress Mill, Marsh House Lane,
Darwen BB3 3JB
Traditional Hardware Direct, Unit 2a, Hall Moss Business Park,
Bolton Road, Bull Hill, Darwen BB3 2TT
If you wish us to post the tickets out to you, send a cheque payable to Friends of Darwen Cemetery and post it to :-
Friends of Darwen Cemetery
C/O Unit 2a, Hall Moss Business Park,
Bolton Road, Bull Hill, Darwen BB3 2TT
If you require any further information please email tickets@darwencemetery.org.uk
FODC August 2018
Lest We Forget-Cemetery and Sunday Lunch
2.00 pm Sunday 18th November 2018
Event Information
Come along and join local historian Tony Foster as he takes us for a walk around Darwen Cemetery revealing the life and death stories of some of the men and women from Darwen buried within the grounds including the newly unveiled World War One Memorial wall, ten specially-made black granite plaques commemorating the brave Darreners who paid the ultimate price for our freedom. £5 of the ticket price will go as a donation to Friends of Darwen Cemetery who do a great job upkeeping the grounds and graves.
If you want to join us for the walk but not dinner you are more than welcome to.
The walk is free and we will meet at Thompson Street and walk together up to the cemetery with Tony Foster.
People joining us for dinner after the talk will walk back with us. I want to come along so dinner will be simple so that I can leave it in the oven (it will still be tasty though - I promise).
Menu
Roast chicken and all the regular accompaniments, at least three different kinds of vegetables and roast potatoes.
For the vegans/vegetarians roasted butternut squash with lentils, sweetcorn, red onions and dolcelatte cheese (optional).
For pudding (we always have two) ......
Apple crumble served with cream, icecream or custard (or all three if you want)
Warm, straight out of the oven, soft, fluffy homemade scones with jam. oooohhh not just your ordinary raspberry and strawberry (yes you can have these if you want) but we will also have apricot, lemon curd, Giuseppe damson, golden raspberry, rose petal jelly, blackcurrant and vanilla, apricot and passion fruit, raspberry and Morello cherry to name but a few.
Soft drinks, coffee and a wide selection of tea also available.
If would like more information on this event please
click on the below link
https://www.wefifo.com/event/893860475625842/lest-we-forget-cemetery-and-sunday-lunch
FODC September 2018
Heritage Open Day
Sunday 9th September 2018
The Friends of Darwen Cemetery will be holding an open day on Sunday 9th September 2018 between 10am and 2pm in the Western Cemetery.
Come and have a look at our new World War One Memorial Wall to commemorate the men and women who died in the WW1 who are buried in the Cemetery.
Members will be on hand to show you the Memorial Wall and explain how we designed and built it.
We will also be available to give you some history of the men and women who's names that appear on the wall.
We will also be able to explain what our Friends group is trying to achieve in the Cemetery and advise you when our working parties are held.
We will have available on the day copies of our 60 page book that we produced to accompany the unveiling of our World War One Memorial Wall.
This is a comprehensive book and goes into detail on ALL the World War One causalities buried in the Western Cemetery, some with photographs.
It also gives an account of the history of the Friends of Darwen Cemetery group, a history of the Cemetery and an account of the ideas behind commemorating the causalities buried in the cemetery with the Memorial Wall.
The price of the book is £5.00
FODC August 2018
Ashleigh Primary School
Lovely to see staff and pupils spending time out of their summer break to look after their war graves
The above photographs are the grave of Leonard Arrand
If you would like to find out a bit more information on Leonard Arrand click on the below link.
Arrand Leonard
FODC August 2018
Darwen’s Newest Listed Structure
Park Road Methodist Church’s War Memorial
After the impressive ceremony that saw Darwen's newest war memorial unveiled on 1st July the Friends of Darwen Cemetery were delighted to received further good news this week when Historic England announced that the Park Road Methodist Church's War Memorial had been awarded Grade 2 status.
In 2003 there was concern that the memorial was going to be moved to Staffordshire.
Through the efforts of David and Karimeh Foster the memorial was saved and in now located in the town's western cemetery.
The memorial was unveiled on 22nd October 1921 and contains 15 names including James Slater (38) who the oldest and had been awarded the Military Medal and one of the youngest was James Gledhill Doody who was 18 when he enlisted in 1915. He went to France in June and died of his wounds in September 1915. His father was the Head Gardner at the Cemetery and they lived in the South Lodge, located behind the current site of the memorial.
The Park Road memorial stood outside the Park Road Methodist church even when it closed In 1989. The church was sold and the Church was converted into a workshop and private dwelling. The new owner suggested that the memorial be moved and at first to was going to the National Arboretum but a local campaign suggested it stay in Darwen.
The local army engineers brought heavy lifting gear and it was finally found a home opposite the Cross of Sacrifice in Darwen Western Cemetery.
As a grade 2 monument it now is part of Darwen’s heritage and is listed accordingly to be preserved and cared for as part of the national monument.
FODC July 2018
World War One Memorial
Unveiling Ceremony
On Sunday, 1st July, in glorious sunshine, the Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire, The Lord Shuttleworth, dedicated our new World War One monument. The Cemetery was looking at its best after hours of hard work spent sprucing up the paths and flower beds by our dedicated team of volunteers.
Chairman John East opened the proceedings. He pointed out that it was Somme Day, and that at the battle of the Somme on this day in 1916,
Lt Ashton was killed in the first minutes of the offensive.
Lt Ashton is of course commemorated on the Ashton memorial.
Tony Foster told the story of Private Squire Haworth, who saw action at the second battle of Ypres, but who was discharged when found to be suffering from diabetes. He died from a diabetic coma back in Darwen. Tony hopes that he will be eligible for a Commonwealth War Grave.
Our President, Colonel Steve Davies used his speech to thank the many individuals who had made important contributions which enabled the wall to be built. He then invited the Lord Lieutenant to formally dedicate the monument.
After the dedication and the unveiling, the Lord Lieutenant laid a wreath to the fallen.
The Reverend Terry Young then blessed the wall and prayed for the Armed Forces both now and in the past. We then sang the hymn, "Oh valiant hearts" ably led by the Walk This Way choir and accompanied by the Balderstones Brass Band.
Photo by Mavis Smith
This was followed by the Last Post, the Two Minutes Silence and the Reveille.
Photo by Mavis Smith
Col. Davies declared that this was the last official duty of John East as Chairman of the Friends and asked for a rousing round of applause for the retiring Chairman.
John East closed the proceedings by announcing that refreshments would be served in the Rose Garden in Whitehall Park.
Unless already advised all the Photographs have been taken
by Roy Cox and Alan Walton
Click on the below link to see many more photographs
Unveiling Ceremony Photographs
FODC July 2018
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The BBC attend our World War One Memorial
Unveiling Ceremony
Our opening ceremony was filmed for BBC North West Tonight's Local News Program and the reporter was Naomi Cornwell
Our President Col Steve Davies interviewed Tony Foster interviewed
Richard Westhead interviewed A close up on the Memorial Plaques
The opening ceremony appeared on BBC North West Tonight later the same day on both the evening and late bulletins
We are looking forward to putting the clip on the website Soon.
Thank you to the BBC for attending our ceremony.
FODC July 2018
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If you missed our Ceremony and would like to Purchase our 60 page Book that
Accompony the Ceremony
To accompany the unveiling of our World War One Memorial Wall, we have produced a 60-page Book.
This is a comprehensive book and goes into detail on ALL the World War One causalities buried in the Western Cemetery, some with photographs.
It also gives an account of the history of the Friends of Darwen Cemetery group, a history of the Cemetery and an account of the ideas behind commemorating the causalities buried in the cemetery with the Memorial Wall.
some pages from our 60 page Book
If you would like to see more information and photogaphs on this book or look at previous booklets we produced on our popular Cemetery Walks since we formed.
click on the link below
Click Here
The Book is priced at £5.00
You can pick up a copy from Darwen Heritage Centre, Holker House, Railway Road, Darwen BB3 2RJ
We can also post a copy to you,
UK postage + £2.50
European Postage + £5.50
Rest of the World Postage + £8.00
You can pay via Paypal through this website
Click Here
If you wish to pay by cheque please make the cheque payable to
The Friends of Darwen Cemetery
And post it to:-
The Friends of Darwen Cemetery
C/O Unit 2A, Hall Moss Business Park,
Bolton Road, Bull Hill,
Darwen BB3 2TT
FODC July 2018
A Deer has a good look around the Cemetery
One of the local Deer decided to have a good look around the Cemetery early on Tuesday Morning (3rd July) I hope he found it to his satisfaction
Photographed by Chrissy Lake
FODC July 2018
World War One Memorial
Opening Ceremony
1st July 2018 2.30
pm for a 3pm start
The Unveilling will take place at 3pm on the 1st July 2018 and you're asked to assemble at the Cross of Scarifice at 2.30pm.
The Memorial will be Unveiled by the Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire, we will have a Brass Band and a Choir at the Ceremony
Following the event there will be refreshments served at the Whitehall Hut in Whitehall Park.
Parking on the 1st July 2018
Due to limited parking in the Western Cemetery we will be implementing a Car Parking Traffic System from 1.30pm
The Entrance between the two Lodges will be closed and only available for Dignitaries, the Brass Band and the Choir.
(members of the Brass band and Choir must be parked up at the latest 2.15pm as the access to Parking will be closed at 2.15pm)
The Main Entrance for Parking will be via Lark Street Gates
We will be implementing a one way system and you will be Marshalled to a parking space.
As we are expecting a large turnout we apologise in advance to any disruption this may cause for the usual visitors to the Cemetery on the day.
Below is a Map of the Western Cemetery and the Car Parking Traffic System we will use on the day
To enlarge the Map
Click Here
60 page Book to accompony the Ceremony
To accompany the unveiling of our World War One Memorial Wall, we have produced a 60-page Book.
This is a comprehensive book and goes into detail on ALL the World War One causalities buried in the Western Cemetery, some with photographs.
It also gives an account of the history of the Friends of Darwen Cemetery group, a history of the Cemetery and an account of the ideas behind commemorating the causalities buried in the cemetery with the Memorial Wall.
The Book will be available during the Ceremony, all Donations welcomed for this book (Recommended Price £5.00)
The book will also be available through the website after the event.
Image of how the wall will look
Everybody is Welcome!
FODC June 2018
Some Sneek Photos of the WW1 Wall
FODC Chairman John East FODC President Col. Steve Davies
FODC June 2018
Photographs by Paul Dargan & John East
Sponsored Walk Raised £200
Members of Whithall Cubs help raise £200.00 by holding a sponsored walk in Darwen Cemetery.
Held on Monday 4th June 2018, to help FODC raise money for the Two Benches that will be placed in front of our New WW1 Commemorative Wall in the Western Cemetery.
The Cubs walked for 100 minutes around the Cemetery, a minute for evey year to commemorate the 100 years since the end of the First World War.
Thank you to the Cubs and Leaders.
FODC June 2018
Davies Grave
Photograph by Colin Briggs
The Davies grave has been given some TLC from FODC.
Thanks to Colin Briggs and friends.
The Davies family produced a Darwen mayor, business man, peer of the realm and a Congregational minister.
What a heritage to Darwen from one family.
Photographs by Harold Heys
FODC May 2018
FODC General Meeting and AGM
Was held on Wednesday 25th April 2018 at Darwen Heritage Centre, our Guest Speaker this year was Steve Irwin
from Blackburn Museum
and spoke about the
'They win or Die who wear the Rose of Lancaster :
The defence of Givenchy 9 - 11th April 1918'
We also gave an update on the progress of our World One Memorial in the process of being built in the Western Cemetery.
Minutes from our AGM and Chairmans Report
2018
If you would like to read the minutes from our 2018 AGM and Chairmans report, click on the link below.
Minutes of AGM 2018
FODC April 2018
Our WW1 Wall is taking Shape!
Our World War One Wall is starting to look impressive despite the weather.
Photographed by John East
FODC April 2018
Our Martha is waiting for the Cemetery Bus.
Our very own Martha Jane Bury has been out and about on the bus stops advertising boards in both Blackburn and Darwen for International Woman's Day.
Martha who is burried in the Western Cemetery and known as the White Lady was the first 1893 President of the Darwen Co-operative Woman's Guild and leading light in the national movement.
She was a pioneer for the rights of working class women and one of the first women to be elected to the Blackburn's Board of Guardian.
Martha was born in Blackburn in 1850 the daughter of George Walmsley, headmaster of Park Road School, Blackburn and Jane Pearson. Her farther died when she was two and she began working in the mills when she was 11 and moved to Darwen when she was 17, Martha married John William Bury in 1882 and she continued working in the mills until she was 41 by which time she had 5 children (one died in infancy).
She was actively associated with the Congregational Church and the towm's temperance movement.
Martha died in 1913.
FODC March 2018
Our latest Working Party in the Cemetery Cancelled
Our first working party in February had to be cancelled at the last moment due to a flurry of Snow and Freezing Temperaturs.
Lets hope it gets warmer fo our next Working Party on the 24th February.
Photograph by Roy Cox
FODC February 2018
Our World War One Memorial
The area in the Cemetery where the WWI memorial will be constructed
Linda and Ineke stand infront of where the WWI memorial will be constructed
Kath gives the area near the to the new memorial site a good sweep!
Artists Impression of the finished World War One Memorial
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Unveiling of the Memorial will be held on the 1st July 2018
More information to follow soon!
FODC January 2018
Roy's Amusing take on our Working Parties
We have added a New Page to our Website, "Roy's Amusing Working Party Photos".
Have a look at the Photographs taken by Roy during our 2017 Working Parties with Roy's amusing comments.
To see our new page look down the left hand block or click on the link below.
Click Here
FODC
Check out our New Booklet Page
If you missed any of our Cemetery Walks over the years, these booklets are still available to buy!
You could complete the walk yourself as each booklet has a map inside showing you the route of each walk and the area each grave on the walk are located.
Or you could buy the booklet just to see the history or story of the Graves featured on the walk from the comfort of your arm chair!
If you wish to see other Walk Booklets for sale click the below link.
Walk Booklets
In the Press
29th July 2018:
Darwen's Newest Listed StructurePark Road Methodist Church’s War Memorial
17th July 2018:
Darwen's tribute to the World War One fallen proves a great draw to remembrance
19th June 2018:
Darwen's world war one memorial set for unveiling parade
28th April 2018:
Darwen world war one memorial to be unveiled
20th February 2018:
Martha, the Darwen mother who fought for the rights of Women and the Poor
13th February 2018:
MP Jake Berry celebrate Darwen Suffrage Leader
5th February 2018:
Community group takes action over dog fouling in Darwen Cemetery
3rd February 2018:
Friends of Darwen Cemetery will meet to work on War Memorial
17th January 2018:
Friends of Darwen Cemetery have begun work on a World War One Memorial
CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE PAGE
Friends of Darwen Cemetery
Postal Address
Friends of Darwen Cemetery
C/O Unit 2A, Hall Moss Business Park
Bolton Road, Bull Hill, Darwen,
Lancashire BB3 2TT
FODC July 2014
2018 Working Party Dates Released
Click on this link
2018 Public Meetings Dates Released
Click on this link
Gift Aid
If you wish to donate to the Friends of Darwen Cemetery and you pay Tax, please click on the image and fill in the details required and email it to info@darwencemetery.org.uk or you can print out the document and send it in the post to:
Friends of Darwen Cemetery C/O Unit 2A,
Hall Moss Business Park, Bolton Road,
