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Friends of Ocklynge Cemetery @ofocklynge.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

After last week's tour of the cemetery for #HeritageOpenDays our Chair, Kevin, took tours of our parish church of St Mary's. Before Ocklynge opened in 1857 burials were in the church graveyard. It is estimated that since the 12th century thousands were buried here but records only started in 1558.

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Friends of Ocklynge Cemetery @ofocklynge.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Amazing turnout for Kevin's guided walk as part of #HeritageOpenDays Final head count - 87 visitors, 4 dogs & 1 baby! Luckily he has a loud voice - perfect for all the talks he gives but particularly helpful today! Very well received & we have already had 5 new membership forms emailed in.

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Friends of Ocklynge Cemetery @ofocklynge.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

As part of the Eastbourne #HeritageOpenDays Kevin Gordon, local historian, will give a guided walk of Ocklynge Cemetery. Please gather promptly outside the Chapel at the Willingdon Road gates at 14:30 on Saturday 12-Sep-2026. The walk will last about 90 minutes. (1)

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Friends of Ocklynge Cemetery @ofocklynge.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

We have many squirrels at the cemetery. Methinks it is because they are so well fed & tell all their mates from the nearby parks!

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Friends of Ocklynge Cemetery @ofocklynge.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Trouble is they have always flown off by the time I get my guide out! 😆

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Findmypast @findmypast.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

On this day in 1945, the Second World War ended with VJ Day. For those serving in the Far East, the war did not end on 8 May 1945. Many were held as prisoners of war in brutal conditions.

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Friends of Ocklynge Cemetery @ofocklynge.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

One of our volunteers, Li, certainly had his work cut out this week when he took on this tree for pruning!! 🌳

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Friends of Ocklynge Cemetery @ofocklynge.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

If you have visited any cemetery recently you will probably have noticed that many of the headstones have taken on a rust coloured hue. This is due to the heatwaves we are experiencing. Lichens are very tough and during a heatwave or drought they dry out completely to protect themselves. (1)

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Friends of Ocklynge Cemetery @ofocklynge.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Our chairman, Kevin, recently found a photo of the interment of one of his ancestors at Ocklynge Cemetery. He was Ephraim Mitchell who was known as The Road Poet. Kevin had previously written this article on him. sussexhistory.net/2024/05/21/t...

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Friends of Ocklynge Cemetery @ofocklynge.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Latest addition to our website is the virtual cemetery created on @findagrave.bsky.social named 'Babies/Children'. These are graves with no memorial. Over 1000 added so far & many have been linked on FG with parents & siblings buried elsewhere in the cemetery. www.fooc.org.uk/babieschildren

fooc.org.uk

Babies/children — Friends of Ocklynge Cemetery

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Friends of Ocklynge Cemetery @ofocklynge.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

If you like your local history you will enjoy the Eastbourne Heritage List website. Hundreds of items of historic interest have been recorded, there is a list of commemorative plaques & local places which will be open for Heritage Open Days next month. 🙂 www.eastbournehistory.org.uk/eastbourne-h...

eastbournehistory.org.uk

Eastbourne Heritage List - Eastbourne Local History Society

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Friends of Ocklynge Cemetery @ofocklynge.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

Saw many butterflies at the cemetery on Thursday and started thinking what they do in a drought which led me down a rabbit hole of how butterflies keep hydrated! 🦋

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Friends of Ocklynge Cemetery @ofocklynge.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

As all Friends group know cotoneaster is another bush that thrives if not kept in check. We are trying to tackle some of the larger cotoneasters which are damaging headstones & kerbs. Danielle, Pete & Steph certainly had their work cut out on this grave. Pete excavated the entire root ball!

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Friends of Ocklynge Cemetery @ofocklynge.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

Another of our volunteers, Pete, also took on an Ivy challenge at the main vehicular access to the cemetery. The ivy was getting behind and starting to cover our information board. If the ivy was left unchecked it would damage the brickwork and also the roots were preventing the gate opening fully.

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Friends of Ocklynge Cemetery @ofocklynge.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

Our volunteer, Li, took this ivy clad headstone on. It was also home to a small colony of ants near the top of the cross. The first time he'd come across a high-rise ant nest! The inscription reads: - ICI REPOSE MARIE AUGUSTINE RICHON WHO DIED JUNE 2nd 1904, AGED 43. PRAY FOR HER. R. I. P.

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Friends of Ocklynge Cemetery @ofocklynge.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

🍃☔🍃☔🍃☔🍃☔🍃 Due to the issued yellow weather alert today's guided walk by Friends of Ocklynge Cemetery at 2.30pm is cancelled. We hope to reschedule and will post a new date as soon as we can. 🍃☔🍃☔🍃☔🍃☔🍃

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Friends of West Norwood Cemetery (FOWNC) @fownc1837.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

National Cemeteries Week: World War ll at West Norwood Cemetery. Saturday, June 6 10:30 AM - 12 PM See below for details www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/national-c...

eventbrite.co.uk

National Cemeteries Week: World War II at West Norwood Cemetery

Guided walk through one of London's Magnificent Seven with guides from the Friends of West Norwood Cemetery (£10 donation)

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Caring for God's Acre @caringforgodsacre.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

Love your Burial Ground Week with Churches Count on Nature is nearly here! As well as partners Church of England Church in Wales & A Rocha UK we are thrilled to share 6-14 June with National Cemeteries Week & Climate Coalition's Great Big Green Week #CFGA #loveyourburialground #ChurchesCountOnNature

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Friends of Lister Lane Cemetery (KAVS) @listerlanecem.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Come and join us on a guided tour of Lister Lane Cemetery during our Open Day on Sunday 14th June 2026. This event is being held as part of the NFCF National Cemeteries Week, which runs from 6th to 14th June 2026. www.cemeteryfriends.com/ncw

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Friends of West Norwood Cemetery (FOWNC) @fownc1837.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

West Norwood Cemetery Open Day Sunday June 14, 10am-1pm Be inspired by our very special cemetery!

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Friends of Ocklynge Cemetery @ofocklynge.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

Delighted that a Langney Cemetery Friend's group has been set up. It was opened in 1882 at the opposite end of Eastbourne to us & is still used for burials. The crematorium on the same site was opened in 1960. Here is a link to the Facebook group. www.facebook.com/groups/frien...

facebook.com

Facebook

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Friends of Ocklynge Cemetery @ofocklynge.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

Our next fundraising event is on Saturday, the 16th of May at 2.30pm at The Lamb Inn, Eastbourne. A talk on graves by our Chair, Kevin, who has travelled across the country photographing interesting graves from the grand to the diminutive! Tickets £5.00. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/talk-on-no...

eventbrite.co.uk

Talk on Notable Graves.

Kevin Gordon will give a talk on Notable Graves.

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Friends of Ocklynge Cemetery @ofocklynge.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

We are creating virtual cemeteries within FindAGrave to make it easier to look for groups, eg. Drs & surgeons, builders, shopkeepers, arts & crafts, etc. One set up already is for the civilian war dead from the town. This is the story of two of the victims caught in a bombing raid. (1)

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Friends of Ocklynge Cemetery @ofocklynge.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

A very fruitful work party yesterday when we tackled some 4-star plots in that they were covered in brambles, ivy, holly & cotoneaster! Still more to do next week as sadly the cotoneaster & bramble roots are extensive & the holly bush was more of a tree with a very thick trunk!

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Friends of Ocklynge Cemetery @ofocklynge.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

A few more graves saw the light of day on Friday as another of our volunteers removed a couple of spreading cotoneasters.

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Friends of Ocklynge Cemetery @ofocklynge.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

One of our volunteers gave this tree a good ‘short back and sides.’ This is the second of five of this species of tree in the middle sections of the cemetery that has been cut back now to relieve the pressure on the headstones and crosses smothered by the lower branches.

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Friends of Ocklynge Cemetery @ofocklynge.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

Another deeply covered headstone was found this week. A very large root traversed the stone & sadly lettering has been lost but is just about decipherable. William (1810-1879) & his second wife Elizabeth (1805-1977) Lawrence. William was a Commissioned Boatman in the Coast Guard Service.

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Friends of Ocklynge Cemetery @ofocklynge.bsky.social · 26/04/2026

Volunteers from FoOC attended the Anzac Day Remembrance Service at the cemetery yesterday organised by the Royal British Legion. Our Chair, Kevin Gordon, laid a wreath on behalf of FoOC & gave a tour of the Commonwealth War Graves of the Australian & New Zealanders soldiers buried here.

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Wardsend Cemetery Heritage Park @wardsendcemetery.bsky.social · 19/04/2026

1/3 Not the Dawn Chorus Bird Walk with Sean Ashton Sunday 10th May 2026 7.00am-9.30am For those of you who are not up with the lark at 4am, please come along to join Friends of Wardsend Cemetery on a bird walk at the cemetery on Sunday 10th May with the leisurely start time of 7am!

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Peter Ross @peteralanross.bsky.social · 19/04/2026

"I grew up in graveyards. The dead were my quiet companions. Not silent, though." Radio 4's Book of the Week adaptation of 'A Tomb With A View' is now available in full on BBC Sounds. It features abridged versions of five chapters. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

bbc.co.uk

A Tomb with a View by Peter Ross (Omnibus) - BBC Sounds

Peter Ross uncovers the stories behind the headstones in graveyards across the UK.

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Friends of Ocklynge Cemetery @ofocklynge.bsky.social · 19/04/2026

I met Catharine & Ian who were visiting from Canada at the cemetery. They were tidying the plot of Ian's Great-grandfather and I'm so glad I stopped and heard all about him. Danielle had added Charles to FindAGrave last year with his interesting life story. 😊 tinyurl.com/yc4b6p9f

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Family History Federation @federationfhs.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

Check out our Free Websites page for #FamilyHistory, including One-Place Studies. www.exploreyourgenealogy.co.uk/free-websites

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Friends of Ocklynge Cemetery @ofocklynge.bsky.social · 11/04/2026

We were asked by the Great-granddaughter of Kitty Carter if we could tidy her grave. Her husband, Nelson, is remembered on her headstone having died in France in 1916 & he is buried at Laventie Military Cemetery.

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Friends of Ocklynge Cemetery @ofocklynge.bsky.social · 04/04/2026

Two of our volunteers have finally conquered the roots of bushes on the Chater grave. This plot has had extensive tidying over the past two years but this time even the teeny weeny roots were sifted out! 👏

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Friends of Ocklynge Cemetery @ofocklynge.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

My personal project at the cemetery is researching all the unmarked graves for babies & children. We are fortunate in that we have transcripts of the burial registers We have 4 sections at the moment where these plots are. Once researched I record them on FindAGrave so they are remembered. (1)

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Friends of Lister Lane Cemetery (KAVS) @listerlanecem.bsky.social · 07/03/2026

Remembering Sam, son of Harry and Irene Wadsworth of Southowram Bank, Halifax. Drummer in the 4th Battalion, Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment. Sam died at Shelf Sanatorium on 7th March 1918, aged 18 years. Image from April 2025.

Cose-up of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission headsstone marking the burial place of Drummer Sam Wadswoth. Either side of the headstone there are yellow daffodils in bloom.

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Friends of Ocklynge Cemetery @ofocklynge.bsky.social · 04/03/2026

A name that caught my attention whilst at the cemetery was that of John Evelyn Trollope (1856-1929). I started researching his life in the hope he was related to the authors, Anthony & Joanna. See our FB group to see if he was.... 🙂 www.facebook.com/groups/41603...

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Friends of Ocklynge Cemetery @ofocklynge.bsky.social · 01/03/2026

We shall be looking out for these in the cemetery once the rain stops! 🦋

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Friends of Ocklynge Cemetery @ofocklynge.bsky.social · 22/02/2026

Julia, one of our volunteers, researched Major-General Sir John Drummond Inglis KBE, CB, MC. who she thinks may be the most decorated man in our cemetery. She has added his life story to FindaGrave. www.findagrave.com/memorial/292...

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Friends of Ocklynge Cemetery @ofocklynge.bsky.social · 17/02/2026

Our Chair's new book is out. Having read it already I can highly recommend buying a copy! Two of the patients of Dr Bodkin-Adams are buried at Ocklynge as is Inspector Walls who was shot whilst on duty. Kevin has a book signing this Thursday in Eastbourne. www.waterstones.com/events/eastb...

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Friends of Ocklynge Cemetery @ofocklynge.bsky.social · 16/02/2026

It was a tad nippy at the cemetery today but pleased to see that Spring is springing!

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KeepTheStripesBH @bhlighthouse.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

🎉The news you've been waiting for is here! 🎉 The annual Lighthouse Challenge is on the 14th of June - see link below. I would highly recommend taking part as standing next to the lighthouse & looking up is awe-inspiring.

facebook.com

Beachy Head Lighthouse Challenge 2026

Event in Eastbourne, United Kingdom by Rotary Club of Eastbourne AM on Sunday, June 14 2026 with 115 people interested.

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Friends of Ocklynge Cemetery @ofocklynge.bsky.social · 09/02/2026

Another life remembered thanks to this great research by Julia, one of our volunteers. Meet Robert Stewart Popham (1876-1899), recipient of a Distinguished Service Order for his bravery during fighting at Bethulie Bridge during the Boer War - see info below.

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Friends of Ocklynge Cemetery @ofocklynge.bsky.social · 27/01/2026

Excellent research by our volunteer Julia. "Who would expect to find a princess buried in Ocklynge Cemetery?" Join our FB group & read the rest of her fascinating story:- www.facebook.com/groups/41603...

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Friends of Ocklynge Cemetery @ofocklynge.bsky.social · 03/01/2026

According to two of our volunteers what could be a better way to spend New Year's Eve than pottering around a cemetery. They cut down some of the rather overgrown areas in Sections J & Z so that fewer of the graves are hidden from sight. Before and after pictures below. (1)

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