Thomas Crawshaw Commemoration

On 15th November 1858, Thomas Crawshaw was buried in an unmarked grave in Beckett Street Cemetery. Thomas had been the last of the Leeds Waits, a small group of civic musicians. The role had been in use since the 15th century but in the mid-1820’s, their services were deemed to
be too expensive to the taxpayers and the Waits were disbanded. Thomas never found employment enough to pay his way and he died a pauper. 150 years later to the day
and with the sun shining, his grave was marked with
a new headstone, blessed by the Rector of Leeds Parish Church (where Thomas was christened), acknowledged by the
Lord Mayor, with the current Leeds Waits playing appropriate pieces.