Maud Boyd grave (1st February 1867 to 23rd February 1929)

It was no surprise to find Maud’s gravestone was broken into three parts as it's been there since 1929. It hasn’t been cleaned and bears no flowers. It’s as though the occupant has been forgotten. However you’ll find references to this singer and actress on the internet. Little is known of her and I could only find two photographs of her.

She’s buried in Manchester’s largest cemetery and was born nearby. Her parents were financially comfortable and sent their 13-year-old daughter to a nearby Catholic boarding school in Salford run by nuns. She started life on the stage aged 26 in the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin. This propelled her onto the stage though it’s not known for how long. She was about 41 when she last appeared on stage and died in a nearby nursing home two years later.

Never marrying or having children she left £302 to her half brother (about £25,000 now.)

Thanks to burials records I had a number and could pinpoint Maud's plot in the old Catholic section. Someone had visited previously as I had a single photograph showing the stone into which the words "Pray For The Soul Of" were carved. When I saw those words I knew this was the correct plot. I've a good photographic memory and will remember the location on future visits (I've visited this cemetery more than any other.)

Unless a person becomes in/famous for something they'll be forgotten within six generations. When you visit these older degraded graves you realise it's true. The forest of old graves surrounding Maud's showed no signs of visitors. The only people threading between the graves are men with lawnmowers. I suppose Maud gained a low-grade kind of fame and won't be easily forgotten (I wouldn't have sought her out had she achieved some fame.) I did a salute and left.