Village ‘blown away’ as visitors from around UK visit Remembrance Poppy cascade
People from across the country have been visiting a small Worcestershire village where thousands of poppies have been knitted in an extraordinary act of remembrance.
A sea of red sits on the horizon of Inkberrow with more than 6,200 poppies draping the tower of their centuries-old church.
More than 200 people came together, aged from 6 to 93, to knit, crochet and loom the poppies which now hang 70 feet in the air from St Peter’s church.
The project came to life thanks to Tina Hill and Melanie Hart from the local Women’s Institute, who initially thought they needed 4000 to create the cascade.
However, they later realised an additional 2000 were required and locals knitted around the clock, including in the local pub, The Old Bell.
Melanie says it was emotional when the poppies were lifted into the air.
She told GB News: “I was rather overwhelmed actually; I don’t think I had a dry eye all day on the day it went up.
“As it went up there was a silence amongst the crowd that were watching it, it was just so poignant and so beautiful.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Tessa Dunlop in emotional interview with 101-year-old code-cracking veteranLocals fuming after charity landlord puts entire STREET up for sale‘Not much for customers to cheer about!’ Pub landlord gives his reaction to Labour’s Budget
“We wanted to have the act of remembrance, but we also wanted a community project.
“At the end of the day, we are remembering our fallen so that we can live with the freedom we’ve got today.”
All around the village are signs of remembrance and reminders of those who grew up here and sacrificed their lives in war.
For knitter and Women’s Institute member, Shiela Williams, there’s been a lot of excitement at what’s been achieved.
She said: “I’m proud, very proud indeed. We all got so excited, ‘we’ve done 2000’, ‘we’ve done 3000’, ‘how many have we done now?’, ‘we’ve done 4000’ and it’s just been exciting.
“My grandfather was killed in the First World War and every remembrance November I always think of him.
“I did it mainly for him, but also for all those other souls who were killed in conflicts.”
Once the poppies began to hang from the church tower, it wasn’t just locals who wanted to see the display.
Melanie told GB News they’ve been so overwhelmed by visitors, they’ve had to regularly top up refreshments offered to people when they come.
She said: “We’ve been blown away by the interest that we’ve had, we just haven’t been able to keep up with the cake and the coffee sometimes!
“People have come from so far as Devon, as well as a little bit closer to home in Malvern and Cheltenham.
“We’re just overwhelmed by the support and the interest that we’ve had.”