Giant Remembrance Day poppy wreath made to honour the fallen
A giant wreath of poppies has been created by Herts Belles St Albans Women’s Institute (WI) to help mark Remembrance Sunday on 12 November.
The wreath was unveiled at the war memorial in St Peter’s Street ahead of St Albans Remembrance Sunday service and parade.
Everyone is welcome to join the remembrance service in honour of servicemen and women who died or were injured in the two World Wars and later conflicts.
The parade will begin at 10.37am from outside the former BHS store in St Albans and proceed to the war memorial near St Peter’s Church. The service at the war memorial will start at 10.50am, led by Reverend Mark Dearnley, the vicar of St Peter’s Church.
Representatives from the Royal British Legion, air, sea and army cadets, the Guiding and Scout movements, the police and other uniformed services will be present. They will be joined by Honorary Aldermen, Councillors from County, District, Town and Parish Councils and leaders of the main faiths. The Mayor will also attend, dressed in official robes, and accompanied by his Macebearer.
The Mayor of the City and District of St Albans, Councillor Mohammad Iqbal Zia, said: “Join us for the St Albans Remembrance Sunday service and parade. Together, we will remember the servicemen and women who lost their lives or were wounded while serving in the forces. We will also be thinking of service personnel who are currently deployed around the world.
The Reverend Mark Dearnley, vicar of St Peter’s Church, said: “In our continued pursuit of peace in our world today these acts of Remembrance are so important. Remembering those who have given their lives for freedom inspire us to value one another.”
During the service, prayers will be said by various faith leaders.
The Mayor added: “Wreaths of poppies will be laid on the war memorial during the service. The distinctive red flower has long been the symbol of remembrance of the many sacrifices made in past wars. The Herts Belles St Albans Women’s Institute has done a wonderful job creating their own giant poppy wreath to remember the fallen.”
Too large to be laid at the war memorial, the giant poppy wreath is currently on display in the foyer at the Civic Centre. Members of the WI group created poppies for the wreath out of wool, fabric and plastic materials. The poppies were then pinned to the wreath made from wobble floats.
Dawn Golding, Treasurer of the Herts Belles St Albans Women’s Institute, said: “We created the giant wreath to honour the many service personnel who have died or been injured while serving in the forces. We all created poppies for the wreath using variety of materials, including wool, chiffon and felt. After Remembrance Day, the poppies will be sent off to be used in the ‘Curtain of Poppies’ community textile installation at Wonderwool Wales 2018. The 'Curtain of Poppies' is being created to mark the end of World War I and to commemorate everyone from the UK who died serving their country.”
More information about the ‘Curtain of Poppies’ is available on the website for Wonderwool Wales.
The Right Worshipful the Mayor of the City and District of St Albans, Councillor Mohammad Iqbal Zia
Contact for the Mayor’s office:
Alison Orde, the Mayor’s Civic Officer
Tel: 01727 819544
Email: mayoralty@stalbans.gov.uk
Contact for the media:
Amanda Wilkinson, Senior Communications Officer
St Albans City and District Council
Tel: 01727 819317
Email: amanda.wilkinson@stalbans.gov.uk
www.stalbans.gov.uk
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/StAlbansCouncil
Photo:
Unveiling the giant poppy wreath at St Peter’s Street war memorial: Dawn Golding (right) from Herts Belles St Albans Women’s Institute, pictured with the Mayor of the City and District of St Albans, Councillor Mohammad Iqbal Zia; the Rev’d Mark Dearnley, vicar at St Peter’s Church, and Kate Mackay, who is running the Poppy Appeal in St Albans.