'To Prove I’m Not Forgot’: Living and Dying in a Victorian City

In addition, we are launching the book in Leeds at a short event on Thursday 26th February, 11am at the Thackray Museum, when the book will be on sale at the special price and Sylvia Barnard there to sign copies. Do feel free to come along, - just turn up, no need to book - it will be good to see you.

One person who was interviewed by Sylvia Barnard for her book was Stanley Temple, who was born in the Cemetery’s North Lodge. His father Frederick was the gardener there at the turn of the 20th century. Our secretary, Lynda Kitching had an interesting conversation recently with one of Stanley’s relatives. Barbara Beaumont’s mother was Stanley’s sister Clara so she is the grand-daughter of Frederick and Clara Temple and although they had left the Cemetery by the time she was born, she was able to talk about her relatives. The conversation has prompted her to research a little further with 2 of her cousins, so we may well discover more about the Temple family.  

Barbara was inspired to get in touch after reading an article in the Yorkshire Post newspaper written by Sheena Hastings, the paper’s features writer, about the demise and future of Victorian cemeteries. She walked around Beckett Street as she interviewed Lynda and took lots of photographs. It was published on 27th November headed ‘In loving memory: the faded glories of Britain’s forgotten graveyards’. It was a wide-ranging article including comments from English Heritage and the Association of Burial Authorities about future uses of land and burial plots.