Derby funeral directors Wathall’s is helping local families uncover information about loved ones and reconnect with their family history through its partnership with the Friends of Nottingham Road Cemetery.
The relationship builds on a long-standing connection between Wathall’s and the cemetery, which have both been part of Derby’s history for almost 170 years.
Nottingham Road Cemetery opened in 1855, while Wathall’s was established in 1858, and both share a commitment to preserving local history, supporting remembrance and ensuring the stories of previous generations are not forgotten.
The award-winning, volunteer-led Friends of Nottingham Road Cemetery group was established in 2023 and has been supported from the beginning by Wathall’s, with Managing Director Helen Wathall MBE, her daughters and the wider team becoming active supporters of the group’s work and Heritage Open Days.
Using Wathall’s funeral records, which date back to 1880, alongside the knowledge and expertise of the Friends group, Helen helps visitors researching loved ones, family connections and the history of Derby uncover information that can often fill in missing pieces of their family’s story.
Helen said: “We have helped numerous families over the years trace their family history. We are often asked to confirm when and where a funeral was held, and what type of funeral it was, which helps families build a picture of their relatives and their lives.
“At a recent Heritage Open Day, I spoke to a lady whose family had connections with Green Street, where our first office was, and another visitor who was researching relatives.
“Those conversations are exactly why we continue to support the Friends group. Often, somebody comes to us with only a name, a date or a small piece of information, but that can be enough to help connect the dots, build a clearer picture of a parent, grandparent or relative and feel more connected to their own history.”
Wathall’s holds a wealth of historical records, including documents relating to the firm’s first motorised hearse and records showing how 10 of its Flemish horses were called up during the First World War.
The Friends of Nottingham Road Cemetery works throughout the year to preserve, protect and promote one of Derby’s most significant historic sites.
Volunteers research burial records, help people trace family connections, investigate the lives of people buried in the cemetery, maintain neglected graves, improve the grounds and organise guided walks, Heritage Open Days and educational events.
The group also supports remembrance through initiatives such as its Letters to Heaven post box, which provides visitors with a place to leave messages to loved ones they have lost. Wathall’s supported the project by funding the plaque accompanying the memorial feature.
Helen said: “The volunteers at The Friends of Nottingham Road Cemetery do an incredible job and we are grateful for the opportunity to support them.
“They dedicate so much time to researching, preserving and sharing the history of the cemetery, while helping families discover more about loved ones and Derby’s past.
“Charlotte and I always enjoy attending the Heritage Open Days because we see first-hand how much it means to people when they uncover something new about a relative or their family’s connection to Derby.
“It is a partnership built on a shared belief that these stories deserve to be remembered.”
Scott Jarvis, Chair of the Friends of Nottingham Road Cemetery, said: “We are hugely grateful for the commitment of the Wathall’s team and the support they have given us since the group was founded.
“Helen and Charlotte regularly give up their own time to support our events, despite their busy professional lives, and that commitment means a great deal to us.
“Our volunteers spend countless hours researching burial records, helping people trace ancestors, maintaining graves, improving the cemetery grounds and creating opportunities for people to explore Derby’s history through open days, guided walks and educational projects.
“The records held by Wathall’s, together with Helen’s knowledge of Derby families, funerals and local history, add enormous value to that work and help visitors uncover information that would otherwise be difficult to find.
The partnership has also helped inspire wider interest in local history.
In October, Helen will give a talk to the Derbyshire Family History Society on the history of the Wathall family in Derbyshire, which the family has traced back to 1748.
Helen added: “Our combined history is virtually the same. We have worked alongside Nottingham Road Cemetery, and Derby’s other cemeteries, for nearly 170 years and we are both seeking to preserve them for future generations.
“As funeral directors, we know how important remembrance is. Every person buried there was loved by somebody and every family has a story worth remembering.
“If we can help even one family find an answer they have been looking for or learn something new about a loved one, then it makes it all worthwhile.”
