As part of National Cemeteries Week we will be holding two separate but similarly-themed walks.  Cemetery guides Adrian and Anni highlight some women of Bedford that you might not have heard of, but who certainly made their mark.

Notable Women – led by Anni
For many of our guided walks, the spotlight has tended to fall on the men buried in the cemetery — not because they were more interesting, but because Victorian society placed them at the forefront of public life and record-keeping. Yet the cemetery is also the resting place of women whose stories are just as compelling, influential, and at times surprising.
On this special walk, we turn our attention to some of these remarkable women: pioneers, philanthropists, artists, campaigners, as well as women whose lives were rooted in family and community but nonetheless achieved extraordinary things. Through their memorials and histories, we will explore how they shaped their families, their neighbourhoods, and in some cases the wider world.
Join us to discover the quieter — but no less powerful — legacies of the women of the cemetery, and to see familiar ground from a fresh perspective.

A Woman’s Work? – led by Adrian
In her song Que Sera, Sera, Doris Day concluded that a girl should accept that Fate would determine her future life, and would have far fewer opportunities than men to make a name for themselves in the Professions, the Arts or Politics. Historically that has unfairly been the case, yet in contradiction to to this unambitious attitude, our cemetery has women who did remarkable things, started significant cultural movements or deserve our admiration for their courage.
Their stories are uplifting, sad and memorable in equal measures. Join us and find out why we say Hats Off! to Danuta, Pearl, Elizabeth and other inspirational women.

Refreshments will be available after the walks.

Meet at the Chapel 10 minutes before the walks.

This walks are free but donations to the Friends are always welcome

Please note:  The cemetery ground is uneven, so please wear sensible shoes.  When viewing memorials, please do not lean on them.