FODC Timeline

 

Two more Commonwealth Graves are placed in the Cemetery

December 15, 2021

Two more Commonwealth Graves are placed in the Cemetery

The Friends of Darwen Cemetery are pleased to report that two Darwen WW1 casualties have finally been recognised by the CWGC when the headstones for…

Read more

Whitehall Cubs and Beavers Donation

December 13, 2021

Whitehall Cubs and Beavers Donation

A donation of £45.00 has been given to FODC from Whitehall Cubs and Beavers after the Cubs and Beavers raised the money starring in a…

Read more

Remembrance Day Service Sunday 14th November 2021

November 14, 2021

Remembrance Day Service Sunday 14th November 2021

Sunday 14th November 2021 Service On the Sunday Service many of the local residents and Scout Groups attended, it was a beautiful morning unlike the…

Read more

Remembrance Day Service Friday 12th November 2021

November 12, 2021

Remembrance Day Service Friday 12th November 2021

Friday 12th November 2021 Service Well Done to all who attended the FODC children’s poppy service in DARWEN Western Cemetery. Thank you to Terry Young for…

Read more

Sections in the Cemetery we are currently working on

June 3, 2021

Sections in the Cemetery we are currently working on

The Friends of Darwen Cemetery over the last few years have worked on various sections in the cemetery to improve the look of the graves…

Read more

We have some exciting news

April 17, 2021

We have some exciting news

After years of searching by Alan Walton we finally now have a photograph of the chapel that stood on the mound at the top of…

Read more

Remembrance Service 2020 & Family united with War Grave

November 6, 2020

Remembrance Service 2020 & Family united with War Grave

The Friends of Darwen Cemetery last Friday marked the now Annual Children’s Yearly Remembrance Service in the Western Cemetery by putting out flags and crosses…

Read more

Sad News of the Death of Maureen

October 5, 2020

Sad News of the Death of Maureen

It was with great sadness that we learnt last week that one of our original working party volunteers has passed away. Maureen Roberts was a…

Read more

One in a Million

August 8, 2020

One in a Million

Anne Lamont one of the FODC Volunteers working in a section of Darwen Western Cemetry – repairing gutters. Fantastic commitment of just one volunteer of…

Read more

Our new lawn mower donation will help restoration

May 15, 2020

Our new lawn mower donation will help restoration

FODC has bought a new lawn mower thanks to a donation. The donation from Darwen’s Lloyd Trust has helped us purchase a new lawn mower…

Read more

Our 100th Commonwealth War Grave

February 2, 2020

Our 100th Commonwealth War Grave

PRIVATE Squire Haworth, who has lain in an unmarked grave the Western Cemetery for over 100 years, has finally been recognised by the Commonwealth War…

Read more

Sad News

December 15, 2019

Sad News

It is with great sadness we heard today of the passing of Richard Westhead. Richard was a true gentleman and earned the respect of everyone…

Read more

Remembrance Service’s 2019

November 8, 2019

Remembrance Service’s 2019

Friday 8th November 2019 This weekend people from all walks of life will be taking time to remember the fallen of the two world wars…

Read more

A new Photograph of our Roman Catholic Chapel

September 14, 2019

A new Photograph of our Roman Catholic Chapel

I came across this image of a Chapel yesterday when I was looking at a number of press cutting we have at the Heritage Centre…

Read more

We are on the look out for adoptees

August 17, 2019

We are on the look out for adoptees

We are on the look out for adoptees from community groups, schools, and faith and youth organisations. we have more than 100 war graves in…

Read more

Have you seen our Memorial Garden recently.

August 15, 2019

Have you seen our Memorial Garden recently.

Have you had a walk through the Ashes Garden recently? Have you seen how good it is looking? Many of the donated bushes have now…

Read more

Our Find a Grave Event

July 13, 2019

Our Find a Grave Event

On Saturday 13th July 2019 we held our very first Find a Grave Event, we had requests to help find 15 Family Graves in the…

Read more

From Darwen to see the world recorded on gravestones

May 10, 2019

From Darwen to see the world recorded on gravestones

Burial ground as an excellent source for local history as every gravestone has a story to tell. Some stories are more interesting and fascinating than…

Read more

Remembrance Service’s 2018

November 9, 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…

Read more

FODC 70’s 80’s and 90’s Disco

October 27, 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…

Read more

Our New Road Signs for our WW1 Memorial

October 15, 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 erected on Cemetery Road outside…

Read more

Ashleigh Primary School

August 15, 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…

Read more

Darwen’s Newest Listed Structure

July 20, 2018

Darwen’s Newest Listed Structure

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…

Read more

A Deer has a good look around the Cemetery

July 3, 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…

Read more

World War One Memorial Unveiling Ceremony

July 1, 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…

Read more

Some Sneek Photos of the WW1 Wall

June 15, 2018

Some Sneek Photos of the WW1 Wall

FODC Chairman John East FODC President Col. Steve Davies Photographs by Paul Dargan & John East FODC June 2018

Read more

Sponsored Walk Raised £200

June 4, 2018

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…

Read more

Davies Grave

May 13, 2018

Davies Grave

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,…

Read more

Our Martha is waiting for the Cemetery Bus.

March 10, 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…

Read more

Our World War One Memorial

January 20, 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…

Read more

Remembrance Day services 2017

November 10, 2017

Remembrance Day services 2017

Our Friday Remembrance Service On Friday 10th November 2017 we held our annual Schools Remembrance Service in the Cemetery. This year we had 143 attend…

Read more

FODC attends the Darwen Heritage Center Open Day at Holker House

October 7, 2017

FODC attends the Darwen Heritage Center Open Day at Holker House

On Saturday the 7th October 2017 the Friends of Darwen Cemetery together with other Local Friends groups attended the Darwen Heritage Centre’s Open Day. Many…

Read more

Our Nature Garden’s Bird Bath Goes Missing!

October 6, 2017

Our Nature Garden’s Bird Bath Goes Missing!

Please can you help! Our Bird Bath that has been in our Nature Garden for over 5 years has gone missing! We are not sure…

Read more

Ashleigh Primary School visit the Cemetery to tidy up their Adopted War Graves

July 25, 2017

Ashleigh Primary School visit the Cemetery to tidy up their Adopted War Graves

Year 5 students from Ashleigh Primary School visited the cemetery and tidied up their war graves ready for summer. Well Done Gardening Gang love the…

Read more

Scarlet Fever

July 8, 2017

Scarlet Fever

On a recent walk around the cemetery a large monument to the Jepson family was pointed out to me which showed that 4 children of…

Read more

Our Latest Walk

June 25, 2017

Our Latest Walk

On the 25th June FODC had its latest walk in the Cemetery, the walk this year was “Terror and Tragedy” and was based on our…

Read more

2017 Grass Cutting Plan

June 1, 2017

Due to funding cuts, BwD Borough council have passed the cutting of the grass in the Western Cemetery to a non-profit friends group called the…

Read more

Early Morning Sunrise

April 24, 2017

Early Morning Sunrise

On Monday (24th April) at 6am I woke to a beautiful morning, just as the sunrise was coming over the hill at Blacksnape, with ipad…

Read more

Our Walled Garden

December 10, 2016

Our Walled Garden

During 2016 we started work on a quiet corner of the Cemetery right on the edge of  Cemetery Road behind the South Lodge. Work started…

Read more

Mick passes the baton on to Jill

December 10, 2016

Mick passes the baton on to Jill

Mick has has laid down his responsibilities as the Saturday Working Party Leader after our last Working Party of 2016, held on the 10th December….

Read more

FODC Disco a Great Night for All

November 26, 2016

FODC Disco a Great Night for All

On Saturday 26th November FODC held another Disco Night, over 100 attended the evening. Thank you to Brian and Diane for organising the event and…

Read more

Remembrance Services 2016

November 11, 2016

Remembrance Services 2016

This years Remembrance Services was very well attended with many of the Primary and Secondary Schools in Darwen attending the Friday Service. Photographs taken by…

Read more

Our Ashes Garden

September 17, 2016

Our Ashes Garden

When the Friends of Darwen Cemetery was first formed, the founder members had a vision and plan to restore as much of the Western Cemetery…

Read more

Heritage Open Day September 2016

September 11, 2016

Heritage Open Day September 2016

On Sunday 11th September FODC held it’s 2016 Heritage Open Day We held an exhibition in the Whitehall Community Hut in Whitehall Park showing our…

Read more

1916 – 2016 Somme Tribute

July 7, 2016

1916 – 2016 Somme Tribute

Commemorative Bench dedicated to the Women of Darwen and the Role they played in WW1 On a rainy Thursday, 7th July 2016 in the Western…

Read more

1916 – 2016 Somme Tribute

July 2, 2016

1916 – 2016 Somme Tribute

George Pickup died at 8.30am 90 yards from the starting off trench at Serre on the 1st July 1916 he was just 26 years old….

Read more

1916 – 2016 Somme Tribute

July 1, 2016

1916 – 2016 Somme Tribute

2nd Lieutenant Edward Deakin Ashton FODC tribute to the Battle of the Somme. 2nd Lieutenant Edward Deakin Ashton who died serving with the Lancashire Fusiliers…

Read more

Our Beautiful Heather

April 16, 2016

Our Beautiful Heather

The heather bed in the new part of the Western Cemetery and separates the boundary between section 1B and section 3 is looking really good…

Read more

Sad News

April 6, 2016

Sad News

Sadly, on 13th March we lost Joan Briggs a valued member of the Friends of Darwen Cemetery volunteer group. Joan has worked with us, along…

Read more

2015 Remembarace Services

November 6, 2015

2015 Remembarace Services

Friday Service “Who says we forget the sacrifice of of men and woman who died in conflict areas of the world? Well over 100 children…

Read more

FODC Heritage Open Day

September 13, 2015

FODC Heritage Open Day

On Sunday 13th September 2015 FODC had it’s Heritage Open Day, with a exhibition and refreshments at the Whitehall Community Building. John opens the Heritage Open…

Read more

Lark Street Gates Cheque Presentation

August 5, 2015

Lark Street Gates Cheque Presentation

A big thank you to Crown Paints and the community awards scheme for a cheque for £2,000.00 used towards the renovation of the Lark Street Gates…

Read more

Lark Street Gates

July 3, 2015

Lark Street Gates

The gates at the Lark Street entrance of the western cemetery have been lovingly restored by local craftsmen. The total cost of the restoration was…

Read more

The Grass in our Ashes Garden is like the pitch at Lords Cricket Ground.

June 27, 2015

The Grass in our Ashes Garden is like the pitch at Lords Cricket Ground.

At our last Working Party on the 27th June, Peter mowed the grass in our Ashes Garden based in the Western Cemetery. Well done Peter…

Read more

Damaged Grave

April 22, 2015

Damaged Grave

Some damage has been caused at the cemetery this week. A grave with a statue of a boy incorporated into the headstone has been damaged,…

Read more

Samuel Taylor

April 21, 2015

Samuel Taylor

His name appears on the Redearth War Memorial that the Friends recently restored and the following is taken from the Darwen News 9th November 1918: Gunner…

Read more

Our Lone Soldier

April 20, 2015

Our Lone Soldier

Anyone who walks through the Cemetery will know of our lone Soldier in Section D, this is the lone Commonwealth War Grave in the old …

Read more

Harold comes to the Rescue with help from the Fire Brigade

April 15, 2015

Harold comes to the Rescue with help from the Fire Brigade

Harold Heys, local resident and Friend of Darwen Cemetery came to the rescue after visitors to the Eastern Cemetery had been left without water for two…

Read more

Adopted Grave of J.D.Knight

April 4, 2015

Adopted Grave of J.D.Knight

Janet Toth who adopted the Commonwealth War Grave of J.D.Knight has given the grave a Spring Clean over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend. Sapper Knight…

Read more

Our Official Launch

April 1, 2015

Our Official Launch

On Wednesday 15th April FODC held it’s official launch of the bid for Lottery cash to commemorate the contribution of Darwen’s soldiers of the First…

Read more

Our First Working Party 2015

January 15, 2015

Our First Working Party 2015

The Snow, Ice and freezing temperatures did not stop our volunteers from attending our first working party of 2015 held on the 24th January, work…

Read more

Bold Venture Scouts visit Darwen Cemetery

January 10, 2015

Bold Venture Scouts visit Darwen Cemetery

Last year the Scouts from Bold Venture Scout Group visited the Western Cemetery to visit a number of the Graves in the Cemetery. Colin explains…

Read more

Our Last Working Party of 2014

December 13, 2014

Our Last Working Party of 2014

FODC held it’s last Working party of the year and finished off the year working on the continued restoration of D1 part of the Roman Catholic section within Darwen…

Read more

DACA hold a Remembrance Service

November 11, 2014

DACA hold a Remembrance Service

Darwen Aldridge Community Academy  head boy and girl present a wreath after a two minutes silence today (11th November) at the recently installed memorial stone of the…

Read more

Our Latest CWGC Headstone

November 7, 2014

Our Latest CWGC Headstone

On Friday 7th November the War Grave of Lieutenant G.W.Fish  in Section 4B received its Commonwealth War Headstone after 3 years waiting for it to be made. Son…

Read more

Remembrance Day Services 2014

November 7, 2014

Remembrance Day Services 2014

Two momentous days of Remembrance organised by the Friends of Darwen Cemetery. On Friday over 12 schools both Junior and High Schools with various VIP’s…

Read more

Centenary of Darwen Cemeteries first WW1 burial. Private Richard Aspden Knowles

October 31, 2014

Centenary of Darwen Cemeteries first WW1 burial.  Private Richard Aspden Knowles

On Friday 31st October 2014 FODC held a short remembrance service for the centenary of the first casualty of World War One to be buried…

Read more

Our last War Grave in the Cemetery has been made safe for Adoption.

October 11, 2014

Our last War Grave in the Cemetery has been made safe for Adoption.

During October work has been undertaken by the Friends of Darwen Cemetery to make safe the very last of the 98 War Graves in the Cemetery allowing it…

Read more

Families from afar visit the Cemetery

September 20, 2014

Families from afar visit the Cemetery

At today’s FODC working party (Saturday 20th September) two families visited and were given assitance finding family graves. The Sharples family from Aberdeen, East Kilbride…

Read more

Heritage Open Day and Cemetery Walk attracts over 80 visitors to the event

September 13, 2014

Heritage Open Day and  Cemetery Walk attracts over 80 visitors to the event

Over 80 members of the public attended a very successful WW1 Heritage Walk organised by the Friends of Darwen cemetery during the Heritage Weekend held…

Read more

CWGC Clean the Cemetery War Graves

August 15, 2014

CWGC Clean the Cemetery War Graves

Paul & Paul from CWGC cleaning and maintenance, cleaned all the War Graves in Darwen Cemetery on the 14th August. They also worked on resetting a grave…

Read more

Section D1 Completed / Alice Varley Grave in Section D1

August 9, 2014

Section D1 Completed / Alice Varley Grave in Section D1

Section DI completed The small section D1 in the Western Cemetery has had all of its headstones repaired and re-erected. The work has been completed…

Read more

Booklet for Sale

August 4, 2014

Booklet for Sale

To complement the service Tony has produced a booklet on a brief History of the Methodist Church up to it being demolished in 1964 and…

Read more

Redearth Road Methodist Church Commemorative Stone Unveiling

August 3, 2014

Redearth Road Methodist Church  Commemorative Stone Unveiling

On Sunday 3rd August 2014, on the eve of the Centenary of the start of the First World War, FODC unveiled a Commemorative Stone for the 31 men who…

Read more

Barn Dance was a huge success

July 19, 2014

Barn Dance was a huge success

On the 19th July 2014 FODC together with Blackburn with Darwen Gymnastics Club held a Barn Dance at Prospect Farm, Bull Hill, Darwen. What a fantastic night was…

Read more

Anne is awarded with a ‘pat on the back’

June 13, 2014

Anne is awarded with a ‘pat on the back’

Friends of Darwen Cemetery had a special VIP Guest on one the Working Party last Saturday, when Rossendale and Darwen MP Jake Berry came along to…

Read more

Darwen Cemetery installs it’s New Notice Boards

May 24, 2014

Darwen Cemetery installs it’s New Notice Boards

This week we had two brand new Notice Boards placed in the Western Cemetery, they replace the two original Notice Boards we installed when FODC…

Read more

The Redearth Road Primitive Methodist Church War Memorial

May 17, 2014

The Redearth Road Primitive Methodist Church War Memorial

In 2010 the Friends of Darwen Cemetery became aware of a broken war memorial that contain one column of 10 names and another column of…

Read more

F.O.D.C. unveil our tribute to WW1 soldiers

May 10, 2014

F.O.D.C. unveil our tribute to WW1 soldiers

The project is to provide fitting recognition to those buried in Darwen Cemetery as a result of the First World War is an imaginative attempt…

Read more

The “newest” CWGC gave in the cemetery Fred Baron

April 5, 2014

The “newest” CWGC gave in the cemetery Fred Baron

Until recently the Commonwealth War Grave Commission (CWGC) was showing that Fred Baron who died August 16, 1920 was recorded on the Brookwood Memorial, Surrey….

Read more

Our Volunteers get a Muck Truck

March 9, 2014

Our Volunteers get a Muck Truck

East Lancashire Masonic Charity made a donation of £2650 to the Friends of Darwen Cemetery recently to fund a Muck Truck for the volunteers to…

Read more

Ashleigh’s Gardening Group Visit the Cemetery

December 16, 2013

Ashleigh’s Gardening Group Visit the Cemetery

Four members of Ashleigh Primary Schools garden group visited the Cemetery on Wednesday 18th December to put Christmas Wreaths they had made on the Adopted…

Read more

Darwen Cemetery is on the Map

December 7, 2013

Darwen Cemetery is on the Map

Two maps made of granite have been placed in Darwen Western Old Cemetery. A £1k grant was obtained from the Lloyd Trust to pay for…

Read more

Christmas Wreaths

November 16, 2013

Christmas Wreaths

Christmas Wreaths are available at the last Friends of Darwen Cemetery Working Party on Saturday 14th December between 10am and 1pm. in Darwen’s Western Cemetery…

Read more

Remembrance Day 2013

November 9, 2013

Remembrance Day 2013

On November 8th 2013 eighty two children, along with their teachers and escorts from local schools came together to share an Act of Remembrance at…

Read more

Grave Maintenance

November 2, 2013

Grave Maintenance

In November the Grave Maintenance team completed the Briggs Grave in Section B, The headstone was straightened as part of the work done by Brent…

Read more

70s 80s Night raises £412.00

July 6, 2013

70s 80s Night raises £412.00

On the 6th July we held our second 70’s & 80’s night, we had a very good night and everybody had a good time. We…

Read more

The Model of the Nature Garden Dry Wall Seat goes up for Auction

July 1, 2013

The Model of the Nature Garden Dry Wall Seat goes up for Auction

The fantastic model that Mick Walsh made to show how the Dry Stone Seat would look like when finished in the Nature Garden is going…

Read more

Our Latest Walk

June 22, 2013

Our Latest Walk

On Saturday 22nd June we held our latest walk through the Cemetery. The walk was led by Tony Foster and concentrated on the Women of…

Read more

Rosemary’s Award

June 1, 2013

Rosemary’s Award

The FODC are proud that Rosemary has won the award as we see the outstanding achievement she has made as our administrator. We will be…

Read more

Mick looking as smart as the Cemetery!

May 25, 2013

Mick looking as smart as the Cemetery!

Dedication so what!!! Now the cemetery is looking smarter our volunteers feel they have to smarten up there appearance when working in the cemetery. FODC…

Read more

Groundwork visit our Working Party

May 18, 2013

Groundwork visit our Working Party

Young people from the Darwen Groundwork Environment group joined us at Saturday’s Working Party on 18th May. Despite the wet weather they worked very hard…

Read more

FODC Collects a Cheque from the last meeting of Darwen Civic Society

April 12, 2013

FODC Collects a Cheque from the last meeting of Darwen Civic Society

The Friends of Darwen Cemetery were one of several local voluntary groups who received cheques at the final winding up of Darwen Civic Society after…

Read more

Lieutenant George Robert Craig M.C.44 Squadron

February 2, 2013

Lieutenant George Robert Craig M.C.44 Squadron

George Robert Craig MC, was born in Co. Durham and was the son of a Darwen doctor. I am sure the family home was up…

Read more

Our first Working Party Cancelled

January 19, 2013

Our first Working Party Cancelled

Our very first working party of 2013 on the 26th January was cancelled due to eight inches of snow that fell overnight. All the best…

Read more

Martha out in the cold

January 17, 2013

Martha out in the cold

The memorial grave statue to Martha Jane Bury looks forlorn as winter sets in making the cemetery a cold but spectacular place to view the…

Read more

Section B to be Completed

January 15, 2013

Section B to be Completed

During January work is taking place to complete the re-erection of the headstones in Section B, which we started back in 2011 around the area…

Read more

War Grave wreath presentation in Darwen Cemetery

December 8, 2012

War Grave wreath presentation in Darwen Cemetery

Nicola Jackson who is a nurse in Sidney, Australia, laid a wreath to Australian solider Alfred Ward during the Christmas Holidays at Darwen Western Cemetery….

Read more

FODC Collect a cheque for £2,000.00 from the Crown Awards.

November 12, 2012

FODC Collect a cheque for £2,000.00 from the  Crown Awards.

Jill and Rosemary received a Cheque for £2,000 from the Crown Paint Awards / Darwen Council from the Mayor of Darwen Cllr Eileen Entwistle. We…

Read more

Remebrance Day 2012

November 9, 2012

Remebrance Day 2012

Friends of Darwen Cemetery have once again held their Services of Remembrance. On Friday 9th November the Friends of Darwen Cemetery held, what is fast becoming, their…

Read more

Darwen Cemetery Welcomes Two New War Graves

October 5, 2012

Darwen Cemetery Welcomes Two New War Graves

During September the Commonwealth War Grave Commission erected two New War Graves in the Western Cemetery The two graves are Private V. Cocker (photograph below)…

Read more

FODC raise £248 at Darwen Gala.

August 11, 2012

FODC raise £248 at Darwen Gala.

FODC one again attended this years Darwen Gala, this year with two stalls, we had a fund raisingstall out in the main field and an…

Read more

FODC win the Darwen Asda Community Life

August 10, 2012

FODC win the Darwen Asda Community Life

Over the last few month shoppers at Asda Darwen having been voting for various local charities using a token system. You shop then you drop your…

Read more

Family Graves In Darwen Western Cemetery

June 29, 2012

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…

Read more

Pat on the Back for Diane

June 20, 2012

Pat on the Back for Diane

Congratulations from all at the FODC to Diane Davieis who was awarded a “Pat on the Back Award” from Leader of BwD Council Leader Kate…

Read more

Cemetery gates wrecked

June 1, 2012

Cemetery gates wrecked

An enormous Beech tree, at least 50ft tall, uprooted from the north side of the park over the Jubilee weekend and crashed on to the…

Read more

Birds in Darwen Old Cemetery, Bridleway and Whitehall Park May 2012

May 3, 2012

Birds in Darwen Old Cemetery, Bridleway and Whitehall Park May 2012

Blackbird, Black cap, Blue tit, Coal tit, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Crow, Dunnock. Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Great spotted woodpecker, Great tit, Greenfinch, Grey Wagtail, House Martin, Jackdaw, Jay, Kestrel, Lesser black-backed and black headed gulls (overhead), Long-tailed tit, Magpie, Meadow Pipit, Mistle Thrush, Nuthatch, Robin, Skylark, Song Thrush, Sparrowhawk (overhead), Swallow, Swift (overhead), Treecreeper, Willow…

Read more

Opening of the Nature Garden

April 28, 2012

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…

Read more

Darwen’s Link to Anne Frank

April 20, 2012

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…

Read more

Stand out in Darwen hits the Cemetery

April 4, 2012

Stand out in Darwen hits the Cemetery

“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…

Read more

FODC Awarded a “Your Call” Certificate

March 31, 2012

FODC Awarded a “Your Call” Certificate

27 groups were awarded a “Your Call” certificate presented by BwD Councillor Leader Kate Hollern at King George’s Hall at the end of March. Mick…

Read more

Do you have any Old Photographs of Darwen Cemetery?

March 29, 2012

Do you have any Old Photographs of Darwen Cemetery?

Darwen Cemetery Lodges around 1890 Friends member Alan came across this picture of the cemetery gate houses taken 1890/1893… Notice no rhoddis.. graves can be…

Read more

Bird & Bat Boxes

March 27, 2012

Bird & Bat Boxes

In late February Members of FODC, Patrick & Paul with help from Liam put up over 40 Bird and Bat Boxes in the Western Cemetery,…

Read more

Redearth Road Methodist Chapel

March 24, 2012

Redearth Road Methodist Chapel

Did you attend Redearth Rd Methodist Chapel and remember this War Memorial? The WWI war memorial has been found in the Western Cemetery but only Part of it has…

Read more

Holes Finally Filled

March 23, 2012

Holes Finally Filled

During February many of the large pot holes, mainly in the New Part of the Western Cemetery, have been filled by Blackburn with Darwen Council…

Read more

Our Australian soldier and Anzac Day 25th April

March 20, 2012

Our Australian soldier and Anzac Day 25th April

The Australians commemorate their war dead on two days throughout the  year. Like us they have a Remembrance Day on November 11 and last year I…

Read more

Back to its best / Rev Philip Graham

March 10, 2012

Back to its best / Rev Philip Graham

The once-elegant marble memorial stone to the Rev. Philip Graham, first vicar of St John’s, is now back to its white, shining best after a…

Read more

Look how the Cemetery looked back in 1963

March 10, 2012

Look how the Cemetery looked back in 1963

How things have change in just under 50 years! Photos donated by Alan Walton March 2012

Read more

Our Second set of 5 Plinth Wedges have been placed in our Ashes Memorial Garden.

February 29, 2012

Our Second set of 5 Plinth Wedges have been placed in our Ashes Memorial Garden.

Since we opened the Ashes Memorial garden, only 6 months ago, we have already filled a full block of 5 Plinth Wedges, last week Brent…

Read more

Highfield Guides

February 4, 2012

Highfield Guides

Gail, Val and Lynn from Highfield Guides have recently been tidying up the war grave of H Entwistle which is in Section 1A just at…

Read more

Our very own Little Mermaid

January 16, 2012

Our very own Little Mermaid

Kath sizes up the Boulder that we plan to use in the Nature Garden. FODC January 2012

Read more

First Working Party for 2012

January 14, 2012

First Working Party for 2012

Our First Working Party of 2012. The Bacon Butties went down very well! FODC January 2012

Read more

Our Nature Garden is looking good

January 14, 2012

Our Nature Garden is looking good

FODC January 2012  

Read more

Last Working Party 2011

November 26, 2011

Last Working Party 2011

On Saturday 26th November we held our last working party of 2011, we had a Cemetery full of Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, a Youth Group and…

Read more

70s 80s Disco

November 19, 2011

70s 80s Disco

On Saturday 19th November we held a 70s 80s Disco at the Craiglands Function Rooms, the night was a great success, we sold all the…

Read more

Return of the White Lady

November 19, 2011

Return of the White Lady

Martha Jane Bury has had an autumn clean-up thanks to Harold Heys and his neighbour Bill Parkinson. “Everyone called her The White Lady,” said Bill….

Read more

Vandalised Graves Re-erected

November 15, 2011

Vandalised Graves Re-erected

The graves vandalised recently in the Eastern Cemetery have been re-erected by Brent Stevenson this week. Brent has kindly completed the work for free. Before…

Read more

Remembrance Day Sevices 2011

November 11, 2011

Remembrance Day Sevices 2011

The first Remembrance Service on Friday 11th November 2011 Schools Commemorate the Sacrifice at Darwen Cemetery Over 80 local children and students attended the Friends of Darwen Cemetery Remembrance Service on Friday…

Read more

Graves Flattened in Darwen Eastern Cemetery

November 5, 2011

Graves Flattened in Darwen Eastern Cemetery

Darwen’s two cemeteries have been thankfully free of vandalism, apart from the Council – inspired flattening and wrecking of dozens of headstone a few years…

Read more

FODC are invited to the Mayors Parlour.

November 1, 2011

FODC are invited to the Mayors Parlour.

Coun. Foster invited the FODC to the Mayors Palour to thank them for the work they have completed. Each volunteer was presented with a Mayor’s…

Read more

A great walk – and a crowd of 140

October 30, 2011

A great walk – and a crowd of 140

WE really couldn’t believe how many folk turned up for our latest walk on the eve of Hallowe’en. Guides Tony Foster and Harold Heys had…

Read more

Who is our Mystery Grafter?

October 5, 2011

Who is our Mystery Grafter?

Now then, who on earth is this character helping out at one of the last working parties of the year? He looked rather familiar, but…

Read more

The Eccles Shorrock legacy to Darwen is marked at last

October 1, 2011

The Eccles Shorrock legacy to Darwen is marked at last

Darwen marked World Mental Health Day in style by unveiling a headstone on the unmarked grave of its greatest benefactor, Eccles Shorrock. Eccles Shorrock began…

Read more

Our Dry Stone Wall Seat is completed.

September 26, 2011

Our Dry Stone Wall Seat is completed.

Earlier this month we completed the Dry Stone Wall Seat in the Nature Garden. Congratulations to Mick Walsh and the team who have managed to…

Read more

Richard Westhead

September 17, 2011

Richard Westhead

“Richard Westhead who is 90 years old and laid the wreath at last years FODC Remembrance Day commemoration has appeared on Granada Reports Local Heroes. For…

Read more

Bat Walk

August 27, 2011

Bat Walk

Our first bat walk took place on Friday 9th September on a clear night after days of rain. The walk was led by Dave Anderson from…

Read more

American interest in Our Martha

August 22, 2011

American interest in Our Martha

The work of the Friends and the co-operation of Brent Stevenson in re-erecting the statue of Martha Jane Bury (See our Archive section) has stirred…

Read more

Darwen Gala 2011

August 20, 2011

Darwen Gala 2011

On Saturday 20th August 2011 the Friends of Darwen Cemetery attended Darwen Gala, this follows on from our first visit last year. We attracted a…

Read more

Lancashire cemeteries’ tales of heroes and villains

August 20, 2011

Lancashire cemeteries’ tales of heroes and villains

The FODC has been given a good plug by the BBC. You’ll find the links to the full story at the bottom of this piece….

Read more

FODC become a Registered Charity

August 1, 2011

We are pleased to announce that we are now a Registered Charity No 1142815. To comply with charity law we have changed the wording of…

Read more

Exhibition up and running

June 20, 2011

Exhibition up and running

The Friends’ exhibition covering the 150 years of the old cemetery went on display at Darwen Library on June 18. Both walls of the exhibition…

Read more

Making Bird Boxes with the Wildlife Trust

June 18, 2011

Making Bird Boxes with the Wildlife Trust

We had 2 sessions of building bird boxes on Saturday (4th June) in the Hut in Whitehall Park, we made 14 Bird Boxes so far…

Read more

Celebrating the first burial

June 11, 2011

Celebrating the first burial

The sun came out and the cemetery was looking as good as it has done for 30 years or more as the Friends of Darwen…

Read more

Hannah views the finished Rose

June 11, 2011

Hannah views the finished Rose

Hannah Jackson and family are photographed next to the recently erected Rose Plinth in the Ashes Garden, Hannah (3rd from the Left) designed the Rose…

Read more

Our wall gets bigger (little by little)

June 11, 2011

Our wall gets bigger (little by little)

With money from the Lottery grant we started making the Stone Chair in the Nature Garden. FODC June 2011 Photographs by Jayne Waring

Read more

Donation from Darwen Motorcycle Club

June 1, 2011

Donation from Darwen Motorcycle Club

Back in March we were given a donation of £285 from Darwen Motorcycle Club. Every year the club gives a donation to a good cause…

Read more

Wedding Tree planted for William and Catherine by the Friends of Darwen Cemetery.

April 25, 2011

Wedding Tree planted for William and Catherine by the Friends of Darwen Cemetery.

A tree donated by Tony Kirkham formerly of Darwen and now Head of the Arboretum at the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew. The Tree is an…

Read more

The Tulips are looking just great!

April 17, 2011

The Tulips are looking just great!

The Tulips on the Ashton Memorial, planted by former Committee Member Susan Smith, have now opened and are looking just great! The Council have also…

Read more

The Ashes Garden starts to take shape

April 1, 2011

The Ashes Garden starts to take shape

During May the new Ashes Garden, just above Section C, has started to take shape, Brent Stevenson Memorials have already laid the foundations for the…

Read more

Great job by Payback

March 5, 2011

Great job by Payback

THE Probation Service’s Payback team has been back at Darwen Cemetery working hard to improve the area. Under the supervision of David Luke, small groups…

Read more

Pat on the back from MP

February 19, 2011

Pat on the back from MP

JAKE BERRY has promised to help out the Friends of Darwen Cemetery – not with a massive government grant but a bit of digging on…

Read more

Right, said Fred; that’s it!

February 15, 2011

Right, said Fred; that’s it!

A familiar face will be missing from the two Darwen Cemeteries with the early retirement of Fred James. But it won’t be for long! Fred,…

Read more

The Big Lottery – Awards for All

February 1, 2011

The Big Lottery – Awards for All

In December 2010 we were successful in our bid to the Big Lottery Awards for All for £10,000. The bid was for several things including…

Read more

Our First Working Party of 2011

January 29, 2011

Our First Working Party of 2011

Our first working party of 2011 was held on Saturday 29th January in freezing temperatures and once again it was the Rhodis that kept us…

Read more

Bird Count 2011

January 15, 2011

Bird Count 2011

Rosemary conducted a RSPB 1 hour bird count on Saturday Rosemary conducting the Bird Count The Birds counted in the 1 hour were 3 blackbirds,…

Read more

Darwen Cemetery Remembrance – A worthy tribute

November 12, 2010

Darwen Cemetery Remembrance –  A worthy tribute

Since the FODC launched the Adopt a War Grave scheme coordinated by Friend, Diane Davies, over 80 of the 90 plus Commonwealth and family war…

Read more

Eccles Shorrock

November 1, 2010

Eccles Shorrock

The Friends of Darwen Cemetery are planning to finally mark the grave of Eccles Shorrock of Low Hill, the man who gave the town India…

Read more

Section C “looking good!”

October 20, 2010

Section C “looking good!”

During October Section C has started to look very nice, after all the Headstones were re-erected and repaired, the soil was leveled any holes filled…

Read more

Oh those Rhododendron Bushes

October 9, 2010

Oh those Rhododendron Bushes

Oh those Rhododendron Bushes During September and October 2010 we have cut down many of the Rhododendron Bushes in Section C and have Pruned back…

Read more

Alice, we hang our heads in shame

September 1, 2010

Alice, we hang our heads in shame

ALICE VARLEY had been at rest in a quiet corner of Darwen’s old cemetery for over a hundred years. Her tidy grave was surmounted by…

Read more

FODC Hits Darwen Gala!

August 14, 2010

FODC Hits Darwen Gala!

Friends of Darwen Cemetery had a good day at Darwen Gala. Lots of people visited our stand and showed interest in all the work we…

Read more

Oh Deer!

August 14, 2010

Oh Deer!

Residents of Whitehall, Paul and Elaine Taylor and daughter Bethany were walking recently and spotted this young deer in the Cemetery. On the following day they spotted a…

Read more

Martha Jane Bury stands tall once again!

August 1, 2010

Martha Jane Bury stands tall once again!

Once again, Martha Jane Bury can look over Darwen Cemetery from her lofty position close to the site of the old Nonconformist Chapel – thanks to…

Read more

The Circular Garden looks Great!

July 22, 2010

The Circular Garden looks Great!

The circular garden which will be made into a secluded area where ashes can be scattered and where relatives can spend quiet moments of contemplation…

Read more

Top Gates Pillar Stands after Many Years!

July 20, 2010

Top Gates Pillar Stands after Many Years!

During July 2010, after many years of being laid down outside the top gates , the pillar and cap has been re-erected, thanks to Brent…

Read more

The Rhododendrons are finally being cut back!

July 15, 2010

The Rhododendrons are finally being cut back!

Work got under way mid-July to cut back the rampant rhododendrons which have take over large areas of the older part of the cemetery and…

Read more

Diane and Rose collect a cheque for £1,000

July 1, 2010

Diane and Rose collect a cheque for £1,000

Following a successful presentation to the Cash for Communities Committee by Pat O’Reilly and Diane Davies, Friends of Darwen Cemetery receive a cheque of £1000…

Read more

The Graves in Section C are being repaired and re-erected.

June 20, 2010

The Graves in Section C are being repaired and re-erected.

Work has started on re-erecting the graves in section C, Brent Stevenson Memorials are in the process of completing our first section, In this first…

Read more

2Lt Edward Deakin Ashton

June 18, 2010

2Lt Edward Deakin Ashton

One of the first to die during the Great War was Second Lieutenant Edward Deakin Ashton, educated at Sedbergh School and Baliol College, Oxford, only…

Read more

Our Australian Soldier : Alfred Edmund Ward

June 15, 2010

Our Australian Soldier : Alfred Edmund Ward

Rosemary and Len Jackson were asked by their daughter Nicola, who now lives in Australia, to place a tribute on the war grave of Arthur…

Read more

Ashton Memorial

June 1, 2010

Ashton Memorial

Work has been completed on the Ashton Memorial outside wall and it has now been made safe. The Garden inside the Memorial has been weeded, fresh top…

Read more

Friends of Darwen Cemetery first meeting

February 1, 2010

Back in February 2010 we had our very first meeting and selected the Chairman, Secretary and Treasure. John East became Chairman, Rosemary Jackson became Secretary…

Read more