Ryde Social Heritage Group research the social history of the citizens of Ryde, Isle of Wight. Documenting their lives, businesses and burial transcriptions.
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VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS EVENTS

Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas

Almost 60 people dropped in to join us for our Victorian Christmas Celebration at Ryde Cemetery on Wednesday 10th December between 11am and 2pm. Both chapels looked very festive with a wonderful tree and lots of traditional decorations made from holly and ivy picked from the cemetery grounds. Our Victorian themed display boards were very colourful and we had an interesting collection of books with a Victorian theme, as well as photographs, dolls and models, Yule log, nativity scene and a scrapbook from the period. A Winter Forest had also been installed, replacing the Remembrance Poppy Garden.

Many of our members came in period costume and John the cemetery sexton looked very grand in his cape and top hat!

Teas, coffees and tasty festive nibbles were enjoyed with background carol music adding to the atmosphere.

As well as RSHG members, their families and friends, there were lots of passers by who called in to look around, have a chat and a mince pie. It really was a fun event.
The next day saw the arrival of 60 Year 3 children from Haylands Primary School, accompanied by their two teachers and another six adult helpers. They were completing their Victorian studies with a day visit to the cemetery. John the sexton and David Earle were on hand, as well as seven RSHG volunteers, to help run the various activities, provide refreshments and generally try to maintain order with so many people in one place! Although the weather was quite bright and rain stayed away, it was too cold for anyone to be outdoors for any length of time. Most of our volunteers were again in their period costumes and most of the children and their helpers were also dressed as Victorians.

The children moved around in their six groups and were really very well behaved, interested in everything and there was such a happy buzz of activity and learning. Each group had an ‘Out and About’ session when they had a guided tour of the Old Parish and Old sections of the cemetery and were told how the cemetery developed as the town of Ryde grew during Victorian times. They found their group’s graves and heard about the lives of various Victorians. Other activities included making mini Christmas trees which were the planted in the Winter Forest; making stained glass windows which were joined together and hung in front of some of the chapel windows; reading and listening to Christmas stories and viewing our Victorian Christmas exhibition, (this was usually while they had morning refreshments); map work and colouring and puzzle sheets. The children had brought their packed lunches with them so all worked stopped whilst they ate these but the happy chattering and lots of questions being asked continued.

Everyone really enjoyed the day and I think everyone slept really well that night!

Students from Ryde Academy also contributed to our Christmas at the Cemetery Exhibition by producing a large silhouette nativity scene which adorns the altar in the South Chapel. The staff involved were Tanya Seaward and Jon Dallimole and the students were Courtney Farmer and Hannah Bufton from Year 12.

Here are some images from the Christmas events:


Created with flickr slideshow.