Giant poppies appear in Pokesdown

For the past year, members of St James Church in Pokesdown and friends in the community have been knitting and crocheting poppies, and now their work is on display.

The vicar, the Rev Rachel Noël, and other volunteers have worked together to create four giant poppies that are now on the fence along Christchurch Road.

Mr Barry Hall, organist at St James Church, said: “Not only the teachers, staff, children and parents of St James School, but the friends and congregation of the church, have paused each time they have gone past the wonderful poppy display and quietly remembered the many who died to keep those of us who are left safe. Some of us may grow old, but we pay tribute not only to the soldiers, sailors and airmen who lost their lives in two wars but to also salute the small army of dedicated poppy makers who spent hours creating this marvellous display.”

Rev Noël said: “We are privileged here at St James to have two war memorials. There is a WW1 Memorial Cross in the grounds of the church near the main doors and a WW2 Memorial in the form of a wrought-iron gateway, at the entrance to the drive leading to St James Church. We will hold a Remembrance Service at 10am on Sunday 8 November. We have created the poppy display to honour all those who lost their lives in the war. The giant poppies include some white poppies for peace and some purple poppies remembering the animals that also lost their lives.”