RESIDENTS opted out of a Sunday morning lay-in to undertake Valeways’ first ever cemetery walking tour, on May 22.

Vale and Barry town councillor, Nic Hodges led a group through Merthyr Dyfan cemetery, in Barry, on a guided tour as part of Valeways’ walking programme.

Cllr Hodges said: "We were lucky to have a sunny Sunday morning at Merthyr Dyfan Cemetery. It was a pleasure to lead the history based tour.

The group were so enthusiastic and asked loads of questions.

"I explained the importance of the cemetery in the history of the town. When the town’s population exploded on the building of the docks the existing churchyards were full. The town cemetery was created in 1889."

He added: "The tour visited the resting places of some very interesting people and I shared a few tragic stories. Such as Tilly who lost her life waving a soldier off at Barry Dock train station in the First World War, she fainted and fell underneath the train. We also visited the unknown sailor from the Lusitania and finished with a cup of tea in the chapel."