Weaste Cemetery - 150th Anniversary

To commemorate the 150th anniversary of the opening of Weaste Cemetery in 1857, the Friends of Salford Cemeteries Trust held a mock Victorian Funeral on 27th June 2007. It was attended by 120 Salford children from All Souls, St Luke’s and Light Oaks Primary Schools. This event included a walk behind a horse-drawn hearse with coffin and a moving funeral oration given by Liz Parsons. Then the children went on a guided tour around the graves of some of the noteworthy citizens buried there. Friends Trust members in period mourning costume provided the brief biographical details. Finally, the children were “treated” to a Victorian schoolroom experience provided by staff from Wigan Pier. Thanks go to Trust members Karen Lynes, Peter Kilvert, Graham Ramsden, Peter Flannery, Gerald Tidswell and Laylah Pyke; Liz Parsons (Bereavement Services), Les Willis (Ordsall Hall), Andy Waters (Laithwaites Funeral Services), Julie Bainbridge (Headteacher of All Souls), Salford Events Team, Peter Whitter (Horse-drawn heasre), Wigan Pier and GMP Community Police. The Friends Trust is to present further events at the Cemetery.
Thanks to Gerald Tidswell for the photographs.