By John Baron
A group of volunteers who have helped restore a neglected 250-year-old burial site in Farsley have been awarded The King’s Award for Voluntary Service for 2024.
This is the highest award a local voluntary group can receive in the UK and is equivalent to an MBE.
The Friends of Farsley Rehoboth Burial Ground have invested over 35,000 hours in the reclamation of the historic site and ecological wonderland from decades of neglect.
Work started with the charity’s purchase of the overgrown and neglected official Commonwealth War Graves cemetery in 2019 and its subsequent transformation into a community asset.
The Friends of Farsley Rehoboth Burial Ground is one of 281 UK local charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this year.
The King’s Award for Voluntary Service aims to recognise outstanding work by local volunteer groups to support their communities. It was created in 2002 to celebrate Her Majesty The late Queen’s Golden Jubilee and, was continued following the accession of His Majesty The King. 2024 marks the second year of The King’s Award for Voluntary Service.
Frances Barker, trustee and communications officer, said: “We are absolutely delighted to received this prestigious award. Our dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers have totally transformed this place of neglect into an ecological wonderland giving access to this incredible heritage site to families and visitors.”
There are currently 153 inducted volunteers at Rehoboth, plus active support and assistance from community groups including corporate charity days. Volunteers range in age from 11 to 92 years, including local Scouts, Duke of Edinburgh’s Award students, enthusiastic gardeners, builders and individuals “wanting to learn”.
Volunteer Graham Turner, 67, has been with the project since it the idea was first mooted back in 2018. He says the names of 4,027 people buried or remembered in the graveyard have been collated into a database.
He said: “I love being here because of its history and the importance of remembering the people buried in this graveyard, who are all part of Farsley’s history.
“It’s accessible now. When we first got here, families couldn’t access the graves it was so overgrown. I remember even the Commonwealth War Graves Commission people had to climb in because it was all locked up.
“We’ve transformed the place from being somewhere that was overrun by brambles, we were slipping and sliding in mud because there were no paths and there were trip hazards with trees. Now we can get people in wheelchairs up here.”
He added: “Receiving the King’s Award is a great reward for the hours of work people have put in over a number of years. It’s been hard work – and continues to be hard work but I have to say the change here over the years is beyond belief.”
Volunteer Rhona Tiernan says it’s important that the people in the graves are not forgotten. She takes particular interest in the wildlife at the reclaimed cemetery, which is also home to three rescued hedgehogs – Patience, Freda and Carla – who are fed daily. Feeders are also put out for the birds, squirrels live there and the graveyard is also visited by deer.
Rhona says five sedum mates have been laid on graves to encourage bees and butterflies into the wildlife haven and there are plans to lay 20 more mats next year.
Peter Hutchinson, 70, is happy to help out at the burial ground and was today busy restoring a grave with fellow volunteer Steve. “You get some satisfaction when you see it coming back into shape as a graveyard. It was like a forest – no, the Burma jungle – when we took this over!,” he smiled.
“We do it to make a difference but also because we enjoy it. You get to meet new people and it gets you out and about and active in what is now a beautiful setting.”
Steve Hobson, 56, was brought up in Farsley and used to play in the burial grounds as a kid. He added: “It’s been overgrown for over 40 years now and I really enjoy getting it back to how it was – you can see what a difference you’re making.”
Recipients of the King’s Award are announced annually on 14 November, The King’s Birthday.
Award winners this year include volunteer groups from across the UK, such as a mental health and wellbeing support network for veterans and their families in Yorkshire; a group preserving a historic 12th century castle in south Wales; volunteers providing English lessons for refugees in Stirling and an organisation providing a opportunities to engage in the arts for people with learning disabilities in County Fermanagh.
Representatives of The Friends of Farsley Rehoboth Burial Ground will receive the award crystal and certificate from Ed Anderson CBE Lord-Lieutenant of West Yorkshire.
In addition, two volunteers from The Friends of Farsley Rehoboth Burial Ground will attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May and June 2025, along with other recipients of this year’s award.
To get involved with the Friends, contact John Barker on 07701 048812 or fill in the form here.
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