Lawnswood Cemetery fits in the heart of Wharfedale and is the largest cemetery in our area. Below is a plea from the Friends of Lawnswood Cemetery to raise funds to have the books restored.

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/folcremembrance

Weʼre raising £2,000 to support Leeds City Council in the restoration and digitalisation of the Books of Remembrance at Lawnswood Cemetery.

Story
The Books of Remembrance at Lawnswood Cemetery were vandalised over the Easter weekend. Three books relating to April, May and June were badly damaged when attacked using a knife and they were scattered in the grounds outside the building where they are displayed for the public to see. These are priceless documents holding personal sentiments from many hundreds of families across the UK and further afield dating back decades. Relatives, friends and the local community have been horrified by this mindless attack and are wanting to do something to help. The Friends of Lawnswood Cemetery is setting up a fundraising campaign to co-ordinate peoples efforts and desire to contribute towards the restoration costs. The money raised will be used by Leeds City Council to support the restoration of the damaged books and to digitalise the Books of Remembrance for the future protection of these priceless and personal records.

Thank you to all our members, old and new, who bobbed in to see us at the NEC. We hope you enjoyed the event as much as we did.

The following enquiry has been received from: Tony Schuck

"At Christmas I was given a Royal British Legion poppy (Somme 100) dedicated to the above soldier  Walter Rawnsley who was resident in Otley.

I have begun research on him and have found census details and army record etc. I intend to visit Otley to see his name on the memorial in All Saints Church.

I am trying to trace a photograph of him and have enlisted the help of a very kind lady at Otley museum to scan the Wharfedale Observer for the time when he died.

Do you know if there are any family members still living in the area who may be able to help in this quest?? I have established that he had a brother who also was killed in the Great War and that his last surviving  brother died in Otley aged 87."

Can you help with this at all with your local knowledge?

On the 25th January 2017, Roger Gill was walking in the area when he came across Farnley All Saints Church. He notices some unusual looking headstones, of a particular design, and wonders if any member of Wharfedale could shed any light on their design?

Farnley: All Saints - Mystery Stones