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Opening of the Nature Garden

Over 60 people attended the official opening of the FODC Award for All Nature Garden on Saturday 28th April 2012. 















The BwD Mayor Coun. Karimah Foster unvieed the boulder plaque and commented on the the exhaustive work of the FODC volunteers. 












The sun shone and everyone enjoyed the occasion. Several guests attended including the new head teacher of Darwen Vale High School, Mrs. Fiona Jack attended and was amazed at the progress and commitment of the residents.

Later in the afternoon, FODC Rosemary Jackson and Chairman John East escorted Rossendale and Darwen MP Jake Berry around the cemetery to show off the work of the volunteers.

John East said, "The opening went very well and we congratulate all the FODC for making such a difference to the cemetery. We have reached another milestone of development and look forward to further challenges and partnerships."

Photos courtisy of Roy Cox
April 25th 2012 




Thank you to Gordon Gillett for sign writing the Planter.

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Darwen's Link to Anne Frank

It started with a book I was reading. In it was a photograph of an elderly man playing the piano and the caption said, "Grandfather Rudolf at the piano in a pub in Darwin (sic), Lancashire 1943".

The book was, 'The Promise' by Eva Schloss and Barbara Powers. The book tells Eva's story and how she survived Auschwitz. Along with another book, Eva's Story by Eva Schloss and Evelyn Kent I have been able to piece Rudolf's story together and along the way discovered a link to Anne Frank.

For the full story click on the below link

Stories

Family Graves In Darwen Western Cemetery

One of the aims of the Friends of Darwen Cemetery is to raise funds to get the toppled headstones in the cemetery re-erected. In this time of cuts this is proving to be a difficult task so it is really good that some people are having their own family graves re-fixed by local stonemasons who are willing to help with this work

One example is the fixing of the toppled cross in Section 2 of the Rev. Phillip Graham who built St John's Church in Darwen by a relative who lives down south.  We have also been able to help a 90 year old gentleman to get his parents grave refixed and the lettering repainted.

Teresa Taylor from Samlesbury has contacted us with photographs of her family's grave in Section 5.  Her great grandfather was James Brown who lived in Darwen and worshipped at St Joseph's Church.  
He was a stonemason who worked all over the world, including St Cecilia's Church in New York.  He returned to Darwen where he died from a lung disease probably brought on from the stone dust.  
The family grave has been fixed by Brent Stevensons Memorials Ltd, Blackburn and James Stevenson has done an excellent job.

Visitors to the cemetery researching their Family History often find their family from the Victorian and early 20^th Century have been buried in unmarked or common graves.  Some families have either purchased a new headstones listing their relatives or purchased a wedge in the Ashes Memorial Garden listing their family.

If you would like information about stonemasons in the area you can find approved stonemasons on the National Association of Memorial Mason website (www.namm.org.uk)

"DACA volunteering students arrived on time at the end of the last two days of the school term to support the FODC in clearing the path gutters of weeds and moss. 

Around 15 came well equipped and motivated with FODC trustee and Humanities teacher 
Adam Turner. 

In two days they completed the task and now we await some good weather to re set the curb stones. 
FODC works manager Mick Walsh and Vice Chairman, Pat O'Reilly supervised and helped with the work.

 Chairman, John East who was also on hand said, "Adam and myself are highly pleased with the two day volunteering work completed and the Y8 and sixth form students proved themselves - I am highly delighted they completed their set objective and they have make a big different to the Ashes section of the cemetery. 

Just goes to prove that young people when motivated can prove themselves worthy in a climate when young people in generally get a bad press - well done DACA students."

The Students have been asked to present the two day volunteering project at the FODC AGM on Wed. 25th April 2012 at 7pm











FODC April 2012

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Dead Art Competition 2012

After a successful year in 2011 for the MAB photo competition, it now returns for the third time but with an exciting new twist!