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World War Two yarn figures return to cathedral

Katy Prickett
News imagePeterborough Cathedral A close-up of the side view of a knitted female figure in World War Two dress in Peterborough Cathedral. It has a black hat, a cream face and brown hair in a bun. Beyond it are stone-flagged floors, cabinets with more knitted figures and stone arches. Peterborough Cathedral
Eight life-size figures representing the people who carried Britain through the war and known as The Gang are part of the display

A troop of knitted and crocheted D-Day soldiers has gone on parade as part of a cathedral's display.

The Longest Yarn II: Britain at War features 80 hand-crafted panels of moments from wartime Britain, from the beginning of the conflict in 1939 to VE Day in 1945.

The 80-metre (about 260ft) handcrafted installation combines historical events such as the King's Speech with everyday experiences, such as the work of the Women's Land Army.

The Very Reverend Chris Dalliston, Dean of Peterborough, paid tribute to "the creativity and skill of the many extraordinary people involved in its creation".

It also "honoured those men and women whose service and sacrifice in time of war it commemorated", he added.

News imagePeterborough Cathedral A knitted display showing a street party celebrating the end of the war. There is a row of three red houses with a brown church in between. In front of them is a very long table with dozens of men, women and children on both sides.Peterborough Cathedral
There are 80 displays showing key moments from the Home Front during the six-year conflict

The exhibition follows the popularity of last year's original Longest Yarn display, which attracted hundreds of visitors.

This year the cathedral has suggested people book ahead to minimise waiting times.

The wool panels are accompanied by eight life-size figures representing the people whose courage sustained the country during the war, including a Land Girl and a Spitfire pilot.

"The knitted and crocheted heroes of D-Day are now on parade and ready for duty," said Paul Stainton, the cathedral's head of marketing and communications.

"From the beaches of Normandy to the skies above Europe, this remarkable exhibition tells one of history's most important stories through thousands of handcrafted yarn creations, each made with extraordinary skill, care and respect."

News imagePeterborough Cathedral A display of knitted figures, shot through glass, showing the work of the Women's Land Army. Three female figures in light brown overalls are moving logs.Peterborough Cathedral
The exhibition also looks at the sort of work people were expected to do to sustain the country

Also displayed for the first time are 45,000 poppies knitted and crocheted by hundreds of people.

They have been made into curtains to remember the fallen of both world wars.

The exhibition is free and runs until 27 June.

News imagePeterborough Cathedral Long panels of crocheted and knitted poppies, mostly red or white, hanging from the arches of Peterborough Cathedral.Peterborough Cathedral
Hundreds of volunteers have knitted and crocheted poppies to remember the dead from both world wars

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