Poppies planted to remember the fallen of WWI
Louise Stott of Amble Co-operative Funeralcare and Craig Weir, of Pride In Amble
The entrances to Amble have been sown with poppy seeds as part of a national campaign to remember the start of World War 1. It is hoped that when the bright red flowers bloom in the spring, the gateway roadsides into town will provide a fitting tribute to the memory of the millions of people killed, and to local families who were affected by the 1914-18 Great War.
The Co-operative Funeralcare recently donated special poppy seeds to local volunteer group, Pride in Amble, to enable them to sow them in time for them to bloom a beautiful red in the spring. Rotarians too have planted poppy seeds along Rotary Way between Amble and Warkworth.
Louise Stott, from The Co-operative Funeralcare, said: “To commemorate the huge sacrifice made by millions of men and women during the Great War, we are joining the campaign to help cover the UK in real Flanders poppies during 2014, and we are extremely happy to be able to help local community group, Pride in Amble, to take part in this campaign”.
Craig Weir, Chair of Pride in Amble said: “Amble Town Council is leading an initiative to commemorate the start of WW1 – they have recently secured funding to produce a booklet in memory of the fallen and to enhance the current GPX trail plus a short DVD. It is encouraging to see local businesses such as the Co-operative taking part in this worthy cause. I know this is only the start of what is hoped to be a fitting memorial for the occasion.”
“Rotarians from Amble and Warkworth joined forces with the Friends of Amble and the Army Cadet Force to sow poppy seeds along Rotary Way,” said Rotarian Fred Calvert. ” It is hoped that the poppies will bloom in 2014 to mark the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War.
Poppies are traditionally associated with WW1 due in no small part to the poem In Flanders Fields, written in 1915 by Canadian poet and doctor Lt Col John McCrae.
l- r Rotarians Alan Jones, Mike Frisch, Dr Paul Creighton, Jeff Watson and Dave Shoemaker”.
Wikipedia states: “Its references to the red poppies that grew over the graves of fallen soldiers resulted in the remembrance poppy becoming one of the world’s most recognized memorial symbols for soldiers who have died in conflict.”
In Flanders Fields
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
Hi, looking for cousin Mike Frisch, born 1943, and wife Judith, nee Henry, would like to correspond, have the Czech family back to 1681 Plzen marriage etc, can you good folks assist in any way? Many thanks, Neil, now living near Johannesburg, South Africa – FB under Neil Anthony photo with 4 dogs …
Great to make contact Neil, and to know you have the family history.
We must make contact again.
Mike