Many people have been inspired by the major art installation Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red at the Tower of London, which marked 100 years since the first full day of Britain’s involvement in the First World War, to create their own version. Members of church congregations, and local clubs and societies, have been creating poppies from wool, paper and even the bottoms of plastic bottles, to produce their own sea of symbolic red flowers. At St St Mary’s Church, Ross-on-Wye the poppies are draped from a window and at Weston under Penyard they are part of a display in the church which has also installed silhouettes in honour of each of the men named on the War Memorial at Weston.

Research into each of the names has also been put on display and with the clear silhouettes provided by the There and Not There website. Some were paid for with a grant from this charity which is linked to the MOD and the remainder were sponsored by local residents. Debs Lilly, Secretary to the Benefice of Ariconium told the Ross Gazette that the grant had paid for ten and 13 had been subscribed by villagers, including distant relatives of those named. The parish council has also paid for one. Rob Barter told the Gazette that it is very emotive to see them taking their places in the church and to realise just how many young men from such a small village died during WWI.See this week’s paper for more stories like this, available in shops and as a Digital Edition now.