Historic cemetery holds open day

Supt Richardson was awarded the George Cross after his death

Supporters of a cemetery are having an open day to encourage more people to view its historic graves.

Layton Cemetery in Blackpool includes two survivors of the charge of the Light Brigade and the highest ranking UK police officer to be killed on duty.

The Friends of Layton Cemetery - who hold regular guided tours - will answer visitors' questions.

Keith Turner from the friends said he hopes it will encourage a greater understanding of burial grounds.

War graves

"Our aim is to perhaps give the youth of today a wider understanding of what a cemetery is all about," he said.

"Perhaps it will help cut out vandalism and to give them a little more respect of where they are when they are walking through the cemeteries."

The cemetery opened in 1873 and has more than 16,700 graves including 280 war graves.

One of those buried in the cemetery is Supt Gerry Richardson, 38, who was shot dead on 23 August 1971 trying to stop armed robber Frederick Joseph Sewell.

George Cross

The most senior police officer to be murdered on duty, he posthumously received the George Cross, the highest peacetime award for bravery.

Among the noted graves are Sergeant William Butler, of the 17th Lancers who was in the charge of the Light Brigade, as was foot soldier Sergeant William Hughes.

Other graves include Charles Noden who was the first to publicise Blackpool as a holiday resort, the Bickerstaff family, who built Blackpool Tower and celebrated Lancashire dialect poet Samuel Laycock.

The open day also includes advice and information for people wanting to trace their family tree.