Several of our members were involved in Remembrance Day activities in 2018, contributing to some amazing displays. Two that have received a lot of attention were at Hertford and Great Dunmow. At Hertford, local crafters (including members of The Secret Society of Hertford Crafters, school children, people in care homes and other local volunteers) made 15,000 poppies and hand-stitched them to camouflage netting. The result was draped from Hertford Castle - simply stunning and very moving. This display made national and local headlines - read more on the BBC website and on the Hertfordshire Mercury site. As well as the knitted flowers, the crafters made a wreath made up of 352 poppies - one for every Hertford serviceman who died in the conflict and a mini-wreath for each of the 31 graves from World War One in the county. All funds raised from the installation will go towards The Royal British Legion. In Great Dunmow, Poppies adorned sites all around the town center, ensuring that everyone remembered the fallen. The Dunmow Knit and Natter group came up with the idea more than a year in advance. They had anonymously yarn-bombed the town previously, but this time they went public with the blessing of the British Legion, who were delighted with the idea. The British Legion also mentioned it to other branches of the British Legion to spread the idea. As the Knit and Natter group attended meetings it became apparent that the project take more than just the 9 people to complete. At this point, they involved the town, through parish magazines, BBC Radio Essex, local yarn shops (Lloydwaters, Sconch), the WI, local retirement homes and family and friends throughout the world. Knitted and crocheted poppies arrived from Australia, Ireland, Washington State USA as well as Norfolk and London. They ended up with over 8,000 poppies, which were attached to camouflage netting, garden netting, wreathes, sticks and garlands and the crowning glory 'Cyril' the unknown soldier. This were displayed at all the local churches, by Doctors Pond, the Fire Station and along the High Street. They added brooch backs to some poppies and sold them in aid of the British Legion. Once the display was taken down the poppies were washed and dried and then sold at Christmas fairs as garlands, wreathes, stem poppies or broaches with all proceeds going to the British Legion.
See more pictures at the Dunmow Broadcast site. Comments are closed.
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