Like many family historians, I enjoy walking around cemeteries, and I’m lucky enough to live very near the historic Highland Road Cemetery in Southsea, Hampshire. Many notable people are buried there, including people who inspired some of Charles Dickens’s characters, local notables, and eight military men who were awarded the Victoria Cross. You can read more about Highland Road Cemetery here. In 2020 the worldwide pandemic meant we were limited to taking our exercise locally. Southsea’s beautiful seafront was packed, so I did what any self-respecting genealogist would do, and took my permitted exercise in my local cemetery, often accompanied by my aunt, sister or husband. Sometimes, if I see a grave that interests me, I research the people buried there. I’ve seen cemeteries described as “museums of people” which I think is a wonderful description.

My husband happened to remark on…