AN INCREDIBLE display of more than 2,500 poppies was presented in a church in Llandudno to mark Remembrance Sunday (November 13).
Irene Banister was one of 34 people to knit a total of 2,717 poppies, which were then attached to netting and hung in Gloddaeth United Church on Gloddaeth Street on Sunday.
Having set up the “Llandudno Poppy Crafters” Facebook group, and helped with the Gwrych Castle cascade of poppies, Irene decided to carry on knitting poppies and asked if anyone wanted to help.
The end result was one piece measuring approximately 15 feet, and another of roughly six feet.
It was initially set up in the church on November 10, followed by an open day yesterday (November 14) for those who wished to see it but don’t attend mass.
Irene said: “This has been a challenge for me, as I had a total hip replacement in September, so needed to have my plans all organised before my operation, knowing I needed time to recover after.
“But I had an amazing group of helpers - a back breaking job and labour of love; it soon grew and grew, with many more poppies over!
“By Christmas 2021, I continued knitting poppies, unsure at this point what I would use them for.
“The church I attend was between ministers, so it was the following June when Rev Tim Huw Hodgins, with his wife Sam, moved to Wales, so I asked permission to start on my vision.
“I created a Facebook group, asking if anyone was willing to help create a red poppy in any craft form they wished, and I placed a notice in our weekly church news sheet.
READ MORE:
Wedding saved by Llanrwst hotel after initial venue closed to public
“I was amazed by the response, which has continued all year, and I became great friends with one of the poppy crafters, Helen Davies.
“She has been brilliant, bouncing ideas back and forth, and helping me assemble poppies onto netting when I was recovering from my hip operation.”
Irene and Helen assembled the poppies by using a quilting staple gun and attaching them onto army camouflage netting.
A collection was also set up at the church by the display, the donations from which will go to for The Royal British Legion.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here