Service remembers the 400 whose graves fell into quarry
THE lives of more than 400 islanders were celebrated at a church service more than 50 years after their graves were lost in a landslide into Longue Hougue quarry.
The incident in the summer of 1969 saw 231 grave plots from the St Sampson’s Church cemetery fall around 40 feet or more into the neighbouring quarry.
Due to concerns about safety, the decision was made at the time to leave them in situ.
The quarry, which was still used for granite extraction at the time, was purchased by the States Water Board the following year and went on to be used for water storage.
The graves were undisturbed for decades beneath the water, but after a dry summer in 2022, the Guernsey Press, invited by Guernsey Water to use a drone to record the very low water levels in the island’s quarries, revealed a number of graves and human remains visible.
It led to an initial police inquiry and matters escalated quickly before it was decided to leave the remains as they were, as had been agreed more than 50 years ago.
However on Friday, St Sampson’s Day, a service was held at the parish cemetery, led by the Dean of Guernsey, the Very Rev. Tim Barker, to pay respects and condolences and for those families affected to have any questions answered.
‘Churchyards and cemeteries are special places. In the stones and the memories, they tell a narrative of our lives and history made,’ said Mr Barker.
‘For some it has been difficult to be reminded that the place of burial was not as permanent as had been expected. We remember those buried in this place whose graves we can no longer tend and visit.’
One islander keeping the memory of a relative alive was Mary Sims, whose grandmother was buried in one of the fallen graves.
‘I was extremely shocked when I heard the news, it’s something you just can’t and don’t expect,’ she said.
‘I’m happy with the service, I think it’s important that we remember them in some way, or they might be forgotten forever.’
Rosemary Holt lost four loved ones in the landslide, including her grandmother and great uncle.
She said the incident had been tough on the family.
‘It was seeing the bodies in the open that got my father so upset, and it was so sad to see the tombstones just go like that,’ she said.
‘The service has been nice and touching, but I do think the families should be given a plaque with the deceased’s name on.’
Included among wreaths laid was one from from people in Canada with local connections.
