Friday Talk: Victorian Cemeteries – A favourite resort of the living

It’s that time of year again! As the weather turns autumnal and the nights draw in, we start our season of Friday Talks. Please note that we have changed our venue to the Town Hall, upstairs in the newly-renovated Corn Exchange.

In this talk, Julie Dunk (BA(Hons) FICCM (Dip) will explore how the vast majority of cemeteries in the UK came to be established during the Victorian period, and how that legacy has now led to something of a crisis in cemetery provision.

Julie started her professional life as an archaeologist, where she developed a particular interest in Victorian cemeteries. As a result, in the early 1990s, Julie was asked to work on a research project at the University of York, looking at policies for disused burial grounds. During this research, Julie met many cemetery and crematorium managers who inspired her to change professions. Julie worked in Cardiff, Lewisham and Bournemouth bereavement services before joining the full time staff at the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management (ICCM) in 2008. Julie was appointed as Chief Executive in 2018, and headed up the ICCM Team of dedicated and hardworking officers until her retirement in 2025. Julie is now enjoying spending more time with her husband, in between volunteering at the Blandford Museum, carrying out some consultancy work and pursuing new interests such as learning church bell ringing.

Tea and coffee will be available from 7 pm, the talk will start at 7.30 pm and finish at around 9 pm.

Admission £8 (£5 for Museum members, free to Friends and Patrons)

We have a variety of talks about our history and heritage from a range of expert speakers lined up for Autumn 2026 and Spring 2027. These will take place on Fridays (usually, but not always, the last Friday of the month) at the Parish Centre in Blandford. Please visit our Calendar for information about future talks.