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Appeal for help to finish Rotherham poppy cascade

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Latest news in Yorkshire: August 31, 2018 01:20:36 PM

Knitters are being urged to come forward to help finish a cascading wall of
poppies aimed at commemorating the centenary of the end of the first world
war.

The Tower of London 2014 installation has been the inspiration for Rotherham
market traders to design its own version – but this time with knitted
poppies.

Thousands of poppies are needed for the installation to be complete, which
is why traders, army veterans and reservists are urging people to come
forward and get their knitting needles clicking to help make it happen.

They want to create a display of 14,000 knitted, crocheted and sewn poppies
to hang from the rails of the main market hall in November this year.

The market traders committee are working together to make this November a
‘Sew-vember to remember’.

Rotherham Council’s Cabinet Member for Jobs and the Local Economy, Cllr
Denise Lelliott, is keen to encourage children and families in Rotherham to
join in the poppy making fun if they haven’t done so already.

She said: “It’s amazing to see the wonderful response; so many poppies have
been made by people from Rotherham and across the other side of the world.
But we still have some way to go to meet our target of sewing a total of
14,000 poppies by the end of October.

“Joining in the poppy making is easy; there is a range of skill levels
available for the knitting and sewing patterns. The sewing patterns can be
collected from Ann’s Candy shop in Rotherham markets and dropped off at the
same place. We will be thrilled to see Rotherham turn red for the wonderful
armistice tribute of 100 years to remember our fallen heroes.”

So far, over 6,000 poppies have been made with poppies sent here from as far
as Australia and the USA. A further 8,000 are needed by the end of October
and patterns are available if required.

Funding has been applied for by Rotherham Ethnic Minority Alliance from The
Armistice and Armed Forces Communities Programme: Remembering and supporting
their contribution. The funding has been successfully achieved and were
granted eight silhouettes of soldiers for a display. They will be situated
in various places around the markets area on 10 November.

Also, the Pop Up Community Arts project is set to be based in the market
during August. Led by the Button Tin’s Gemma Nemer, they aim to have a Pop
Up Sewing Room to create positive banners which will be displayed to raise
spirits and positivity, adding a splash of colour in the town centre.

They will provide inspiring free creative and thought provoking activity to
those who don’t usually engage with the arts. Developing skills through hand
sewing Community Grant via Voluntary Action Rotherham and working in
collaboration with Art Works South Yorkshire. Further details will be
provided soon.

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