Farnborough Society and Southern Co-operative Funeralcare rally together to save Victoria Road Chapel
Over 60 Farnborough residents and The Southern Co-operative Funeralcare rallied together at the Farnborough Community Centre on Friday (19th February) supporting the Farnborough Society’s campaign to save the town’s Victoria Road Chapel.
The Farnborough Society is hoping to raise a total of £5,000 towards the £110,000 renovation of the Chapel on Victoria Road which will see the building restored and converted into a columbarium, where people can store the ashes of their loved ones.
Members of the Farnborough Society (Chairman, Ted Gardener – far left and Secretary, Barbara Hurst – far right) with The Southern Co-operative Funeralcare (Co-ordinators, Claire McGinty – centre left and Tracey Beale – centre right)
Speaking at the event, Barbara Hurst, secretary for the Farnborough Society said: “Many people are now turning to cremation rather than burials, but struggle to find somewhere to store their loved one’s ashes. The Victoria Road Chapel is a beautiful building, steeped in history and has fantastic transport links, providing the perfect location for a columbarium to allow families and friends to visit easily. We would like to especially thank The Southern Co-operative Funeralcare who have been generously involved throughout our fundraising.”
The ‘Gone But Not Forgotten’ evening heard from Jo Gosney and Eileen O’Connell who walked listeners through the history of the chapel from its opening in 1859, to the local icons buried in the Chapel’s cemetery, through to the present day.
Claire McGinty, The Southern Co-operative Funeralcare Co-ordinator said: “At The Southern Co-operative Funeralcare in Farnborough, we are proud to fully support the fundraising events planned by the Farnborough Society, helping to raise money to restore and reopen the Victoria Road Chapel. It is a privilege to be able to engage with such a worthwhile cause that is filled with local history and means so much to our local community.”
The Southern Co-operative Funeralcare generously donated a large hamper of food, wine and flowers to be raffled which raised £197.00 towards the fundraiser. Attendees also brought home made cakes which helped the evening to raise over £500 in total.
