Tuesday 13 November 2018

Poppies

It was May when we first decided to organise a poppy cascade from the tower of a very old church to commemorate the WW1-100.  We asked the community to knit or crochet poppies and by the end of October over 4,200 had been donated.  Some even came from the USA where a family who used to live in the village had moved to.  How to construct the installation took a lot of thinking about, but finally it all came together and at the beginning of November it went 'Over the Top'.  That is the name we called it, as those who fought would say those words as they climbed over the trenches into battle. 


Over the last ten days it has rained and the wind has blown but fortunately the cascade has remained in place, although a bit soggy!    The porch was also decorated.



And this is what it looked like on the evening of Remembrance Sunday.  


The poppy installation has attracted wide press coverage and hundreds of visitors have come to see it and look at the exhibition inside the church.  A fitting tribute to those who gave their lives so that we can live in peace. Even if there are people who do not believe in remembering such events, I am sure they would agree that this poppy cascade is a work of art if nothing else!

16 comments:

  1. I actually saw this picture in another blog, and marvelled at it. A stunning ribute, and I didn't know when I first saw it, that it was your church!

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    1. Oh wow how amazing Maureen. Yes it is the church I work in and the village I live in and I was one of the organisers, so had a few sleepless nights before it all came together.

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  2. What a beautiful display! I missed receiving my poppy this year. Could it be because November 11 was on a Sunday?

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  3. Oh wow! This is absolutely amazing. Every minute of sleeplessness and every moment of worry was well worth this incredibly beautiful and moving tribute.

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  4. What a wonderful tribute, a real community effort.

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  5. What a grand idea and so wonderfully presented. Thank you for sharing!

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  6. What a beautiful installation. I am not a big fan of war but I cannot imagine begrudging remembrance to those who fought and died. Thank you for your efforts to this end.

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  7. Just wow, it is amazing, thanks for making it and showing here.

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  8. What a fitting tribute of remembrance to those who gave their lives that we may live in peace. Thanks to all involved.

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  9. Wow! What a beautiful and wonderful tribute.

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  10. I'm quite speechless! Amazing project and fantastic photo - quite moving! How long will it remain in place?

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    1. Kathy it was taken down on Saturday, so had been up for a fortnight. We could not leave it much longer as it takes time to dismantle. At the moment it is drying out. Then mainly just two of us have to take it apart, there are four camouflage nets, and remove some of the poppies off, so it can be stored. It will not go up like this next year but we will use some of it. An awful lot of time spent on this project by very few people, but totally worth it.

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