Many of us were spellbound by the test series against Australia this summer. As we go to press, rain looks like playing a deciding role in the final match at The Oval. Whatever the final outcome, we thought our readers might be interested (and even amused) by a gravestone in Layton cemetery, Blackpool where the body of Richard Gorton Barlow lies buried. Barlow (actually his wife’s name) made three trips to Australia, played for Lancashire for 21 years, acted as umpire for a further 21, and still managed to die at the comparatively early age of 68. Such was his fame with the bat that his epitaph reads, “bowled at last.” The poet Francis Thompson immortalised Barlow and his partner A.N. Hornby with the famous line, “Oh, my Hornby and my Barlow, long ago!”

Layton cemetery is now officially closed except for those of us who have already secured accommodation there, but it recently held an “Open Day” to show visitors some of the many other interesting graves and monuments it holds. The Voice would like to hear of other interesting items around the diocese, not necessarily gravestones.