Today in Southern Cemetery .... something for everyone

Now just a gentle reminder that today from 10 am in Southern Cemetery you can enjoy a whole range of activities designed to show off this important place.

It is after all the largest “largest municipal cemetery in the UK and the second largest in Europe, with stunning gardens and pathways, and six grade 2 listed buildings, four of which are chapels. 

The cemetery is also the final resting place for many great Mancunians including philanthropist John Rylands, British aviator John Alcock who made history with the first non-stop transatlantic flight in 1919 and former Manchester United Manager, Sir Matt Busby.”*

The full programme consists of

Famous Graves Tours by Emma Fox

Tree Walks with Peter McKessy at 11.30 and again at 2.30

Wildlife Walks by Tony O’Mahony at 11.00 and again at 2.00.

The events have been organised by the Friends of Southern Cemetery,**and is part of Heritage Open Week.***

Tony O’Mahony one of the Friends is keen to point that "times may run a little late, make sure you have appropriate footwear and clothing and that all events will start at the main gates on Barlow Moor Road Entrance."

And sitting separately from the events put on by the Friends is an exhibition of Great War memorabilia in the Remembrance Hall from the collection of David Harrop.****

So not an event to be missed.

Pictures; of Southern Cemetery in 2013 from the collection of Andrew Simpson

*Southern Cemetery, http://www.manchester.gov.uk/info/200032/deaths_funerals_and_cemeteries/5099/manchester_cemeteries_and_blackley_crematorium/5

** Friends of southern Cemetery, https://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-of-Southern-Cemetery/104042376342221

*** Heritage Open Week, http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/

****Sharing the memories of the Great War, http://chorltonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/sharing-memories-of-great-war.html

What can you discover in Southern Cemetery this coming Saturday?

I can think of no where better to be on a warm autumn day than Southern Cemetery.

The weather is usually good, that mix of still sunny days a hint of the coolness to come and those autumnal colours as green gives way to golden browns.

All of which is a lead in to another of those events staged by the Friends of Southern Cemetery which is part of Heritage Open Week.*

Now I know there are plenty of historic places open all the year round but the focus during this week is to get you to actually go and visit places that have a story to tell.

Many of them are only open during this week and others have special events sitting alongside the usual attractions.

Over the years I have been pulled into buildings which I would never normally go to including a 17th century mansion in Eltham, Victoria Baths in Rusholme and a delightful Tudor garden.

This Saturday it will be Southern Cemetery where there will be a host of things to do ranging from a tour of some famous graves, a look at the wildlife and a tree walk.

And sitting separately from the events put on by the Friends is an exhibition of Great War memorabilia in the Remembrance Hall from the collection of David Harrop.

The day will start at 10 am and finish at 4 pm.

Tony O’Mahony one of the Friends is keen to point that "times may run a little late, make sure you have appropriate footwear and clothing and that all events will start at the main gates on Barlow Moor Road Entrance."

Now I have done the wildlife and the famous graves walks and can recommend both and know that anyone who has ever gone conker collecting will not want to miss that tree walk.

The full programme consists of
Famous Graves Tours by Emma Fox
Tree Walks with Peter McKessy at 11.30 and again at 2.30
Wildlife Walks by Tony O’Mahony at 11.00 and again at 2.00.

Down in Southern Cemetery, Saturday September 13, 2014
Pictures; of Southern Cemetery in 2013 from the collection of Andrew Simpson

* Heritage Open Week, http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/

** Friends of southern Cemetery, https://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-of-Southern-Cemetery/104042376342221