News March 2020 – a rapidly changing situation.
Three years ago, in March 2017 we cancelled volunteer workdays in St Giles Hill Graveyard owing to legal issues and insurance cover for our group when working in the graveyard. We had hoped to resolve the issues quickly but that did not come about.
In March 2020 Friends of St Giles Hill Graveyard are pleased to announce the transition from an informal group to a formal group with a constituted committee.
A quick intro for those who do not know St Giles Hill Graveyard. The graveyard was originally administered by the medieval churches of St Peter Chesil and St John in the Soke. It commands an impressive north facing slope of St Giles Hill, and before urbanization, would have had magnificent uninterrupted views of the Downs. The graveyard can be accessed by 2 gates on the Alresford Road. The cemetery is old; the earliest surviving burial is from 1694 and the last recorded burial from 1973.
The Friends are now backed by insurance to protect our volunteers and have received finance from the St Giles Hill Residence association (donated from a raffle) and Winchester City Council Town Forum small grants committee. Over the last couple of years, we have made good progress with the help of the Probation Services Community Payback teams. Now we are hoping to make even more progress with the help of volunteers.
Before the Covid-19 crisis hit us all, the committee were hoping to have an Open Day on the 18th April with guided tours and with some work activities. This has now been posponed ubtil later in the year.
Three years ago, in March we still had the white carpet of Snowdrop and we were still waiting for the islands of yellow Daffodils and Narcissus. This year we had a wonderful season of Snowdrops and we already have the daffodils mentioned better that they have ever been.
Contact details.
email: graveyard@stgileshill.org.uk
Webpage: https://www.stgileshill.org.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stgileshillgraveyard/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stgileshillgraveyard/
Best Regards,
FSGHG