Handmade poppy display opens at Chesterfield's Crooked Spire Church

A display of 1,574 handmade poppies honouring the people of Chesterfield who lost their lives in the First World War has gone on show at the town's Crooked Spire church.
Official opening of handmade poppy display at Chesterfield Parish ChurchOfficial opening of handmade poppy display at Chesterfield Parish Church
Official opening of handmade poppy display at Chesterfield Parish Church

The exhibition was opened on Saturday at a ceremony attended by the mayor and mayoress, Councillor Maureen Davenport and Liz Archer, members of the town’s Royal British Legion, Lilly Clements who is county fund raiser RBL, Rev Patrick Coleman and church members, Vivienne Toon of Pop Up Poppies, Lorraine Jukes of Fred’s Haberdashery, Walton Knitters and 50 members of the community who knitted, crocheted and crafted poppies.

Rev Coleman, who blessed the cascade, said: “This display is a important remembrance of the ultimate sacrifice made by over 1,500 people from this town- around one in seventy of the local population at the time.

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“It also gives us today the opportunity to pledge to redouble our resolve to pray and work for peace, so that this disastrous loss of life isn’t repeated.

“I thank all the volunteers – aged from 18 months to over 90 – for creating this poignant piece of art.”

Vivien Miller, Poppy Appeal Organiser, said: “The community spirit of Chesterfield has been amazing. We’ve had poppies from Brownies, Scouts, old people’s residential homes. Chesterfield is a small town but it has a big heart.”

The poppy display will be at the church until November 11.