Cascade of poppies unveiled as city pays tribute ahead of Remembrance Day
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The City of Durham Parish Council has produced the display of knitted flowers, which went on show at Durham Town Hall from today, Friday, November 6.
The poppies have been made by the council, with the support of Durham County Council, volunteer residents, Women’s Institute branches from the area, an art group and businesses, with the large ones at the base of the display featuring words taken from soldiers letters to their loved ones while they were away during conflict.
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The display forms part of its Sponsor a Poppy drive in support of the Royal British Legion following the news that 12,000 of the 40,000 poppy sellers nationally were shielding due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Chairman of the parish council, Councillor Elizabeth Scott, called it “a remarkable joint community effort during lockdown” as this year’s tributes take a different form.
The council has highlighted how 2020 is an especially important year, as it marks the 80th anniversary of the evacuation of allied soldiers from Dunkirk and the Battle of Britain and the 75th Anniversary of Victory in Japan (VJ) Day and Victory in Europe (VE) Day.
Cllr Scott said: “Durham has an incredible history of armed forces service and this Remembrance Day, the parish council is exceptionally keen to play its part in ensuring that we do everything we can to commemorate the sacrifices made by that brave generation, in spite of all of the challenges which the current pandemic has clearly thrown at us all, hence our work on this display.
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Hide Ad“This pandemic has obviously been a challenge for everyone but what we’ve really seen in Durham is an astonishing community spirit all round.”
The council has provided funding for the training of veterans and ex-service personnel through the Finchale Group, based in the city, as part of a “looking to the future” Remembrance project.
The council will mark Remembrance Day at Durham Cathedral and lay a wreath at the Garden of Remembrance and at the DLI statue in the Durham Market Place this weekend, in accordance with Government Guidelines.