A community group in Yate has come together to unveil a heart-warming memorial of crochet poppies to mark Remembrance Sunday and remember the region’s fallen heroes for the second consecutive year.
The community group, with the support of LiveWest, partners and the public, has revealed the poignant installation at one of our developments in Yate to commemorate the contribution of British military and civilian servicemen and women involved in the two World Wars and later conflicts.
Over the past six months, the Ladden Garden Village Community Group supported by Chris Willmore, Yate North Ward councillor and Cabinet Member for Planning, Regeneration and Infrastructure, along with residents at the development have crocheted hundreds of poppies that will be displayed during the whole of November at the entrance to the development.
The joint development by LiveWest, David Wilson Homes and Barratt Homes is on Leechpool Way, where streets are named after soldiers from South Gloucestershire who died in the first World War.
Esther Pickup-Keller, a Ladden Garden Village Community Group member, was instrumental in designing the poppy installation.
Esther said: “We received such a terrific reaction to the installation last year that we knew we had to do it again. While we managed to reuse a lot of the poppies from last year’s installation, we had to make many more as the development has grown significantly over the past 12 months and we wanted to decorate the new areas with crocheted poppy wreaths.
“We’ve been lucky that we’ve had a ten-strong group of volunteers busily crocheting over the past few months who have produced the most fitting tribute to those who are no longer with us. I hope residents and the wider community come out in force to remember this fallen this Remembrance Sunday.”
Over the past year we have continually supported the community group with some funding for their activities, this has included the poppy memorial display.
Marie Burke, our Community Connector, said: “This year’s event is the culmination of efforts from a wide range of people and organisations. Barratt Homes Bristol and Barratt David Wilson Homes South West funded the Remembrance banners and trail, while members of the Community Group have crafted poppies.
“We’re proud of our community's efforts in making this a success, honouring those who have served us. I hope residents of the development, as well as those from the wider community, will join us in celebrating the ultimate sacrifice of Yate’s service personnel.“
Over the past three years, the community group has produced information about each of the heroes which they posted to residents to help them learn more about the person their street was named after.
This year, details about the region’s fallen soldiers will be displayed proudly throughout the development during November to mark the armistice agreement that ended the First World War.
A Remembrance Trail throughout Ladden Garden Village also serves to honour the service and sacrifice of those who lost their lives fighting for their country.
Hywel Snook, associate vicar at Yate Parish and member of the Ladden Garden Village Community Group will lead a walkabout at 2pm on Remembrance Sunday, Sunday 12 November, to quietly remember and pay his respects to the Armed Forces, veterans, and their families.
Residents and members of the community are invited to meet outside the David Wilson Homes Sales Centre if they’d like to attend the walkover, where it will start from the playpark on the corner of Clark Drive and Matthew Road.
Andrea Pilgrim, Sales Director for Barratt Bristol, said: “Councillor Willmore, the community group, residents and LiveWest have done a fantastic job in remembering the fallen and bring people together to remember the sacrifices they made.”
Louise Ware, Sales Director for Barratt David Wilson Homes South West, added: “The poppy remains an iconic image and to see the development decorated for such an important event promises to be truly memorable.”