Work starts to create poppy cascade for Remembrance

Work has started to create thousands of knitted and crocheted poppies for a Remembrance display.

The organisers of the poppy cascade in Crich, Derbyshire have set a target of 4,000 of the flowers, each created by hand by volunteers.

The poppies will be joined together and then go on display at the village's beacon at the beginning of November.

One of the volunteers Kay Fletcher said she was inspired by her grandfather - army veteran Joe Taylor from Belper who served in Burma during World War Two. She said she did not find out about his service until after he died.

"He told me he was a painter and decorator and I only knew he'd served in the war after he had died," she said. "He was a real gentleman".

The poppy cascade was the brainchild of Sandra Lamb, a member of the Crich and district branch of the Royal British Legion.

"There's three of us - myself, Karen and Ellie - and we call ourselves the Poppettes," she said.

"We had this idea, a big one, to decorate Crich Stand after last year's Remembrance Sunday, and the reaction so far has been absolutely brilliant."

The organisers have set a modest target of 4.000 poppies and said they have received support from a number of local groups and organisations.

Local knitters and crocheters have also come forward to offer their support.

Pat Morley was inspired by her father John Anderson who served as a Spitfire pilot in the Second World War.

"He was in the desert and he sailed from Liverpool on his 21st birthday," she said.

"As a family, whenever we see Spitfires we think of him and I'm sure he'd be moved by this tribute."

The poppy cascade is due to go on display at the Crich beacon at 14:00 GMT on 2 November.

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