Thruscross cemetery rededication

The event, on Sunday July 4 at 3pm, will mark two years of work to tidy the historic area on Greenhow Hill Road.

Alastair Ferneley, Vicar of Dacre with Hartwith & Darley with Thornthwaite, said the refurbishment had been thanks to the initiative and hard work of Norman Wheat and the parish council.

“This has involved the laying of paths, and the planting of wildflowers and trees, making maintenance much more manageable and the cemetery much more attractive,” said Rev Ferneley.

“We intended to have this event to celebrate and inform the local community last year, but 2020 happened.

“But we’d love to welcome people as we show off this lovely spot and have a very short service of rededication followed by some refreshments, and a quiz/treasure hunt.”

The cemetery was created when the reservoir was built in 1960 to serve residents in Leeds.

A number of the burials from the old St Mary’s, West End churchyard were reburied before the flooding.

“But other local people have been buried at the site since, added Rev Ferneley.

“There is plenty of room for centuries to come.

“If you are local and would like, you can be laid to rest here when the time comes, or if you simply want to peruse the memorials for a bit of local history, or to look for a relative, or enjoy the birdsong and moorland views, anyone is welcome to visit.”

The service will be short and there will also be a treasure hunt on the commemoration day.