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Market Hall to turn red as “Rotherham Remembers”

Latest news in Yorkshire: October 10, 2018 11:50:48 AM

#wathupondearne

Handmade poppies from all over the world will be on display as
Rotherham’s market hall turns red to mark the centenary of the end of
World War One.

The Rotherham Poppy Cascade will be officially launched on Monday 22
October, when the display of more than 14,000 lovingly hand-crafted
poppies will be unveiled to the public and the Mayor of Rotherham, Cllr
Allan Buckley, will unveil a “Rotherham Remembers” wall of fallen
heroes.

The poppies, knitted, sewed and crocheted by volunteers, then hand-sewn
onto a hessian background, have been created by local groups and
individuals and by people from further afield – including countries as
far away as Australia and the USA.

“We can’t believe how it has taken off,” said Ann Savage, one of the
market traders who helped organise the cascade. “The whole community has
got behind the idea.”

Fellow trader and organiser Lyndsey Otterwell added: “It’s unbelievable
how much it’s snowballed since the markets committee came up with the
idea in February. In March we were worried we wouldn’t get enough but we
have easily reached the target number of poppies and there’s still more
coming in!”

Cllr Denise Lelliott, Rotherham Council’s Cabinet Member for Jobs and
the Local Economy, said: “I can’t wait for the grand unveiling of the
poppy cascade and the culmination of all the hard work by everyone at
Rotherham Markets and the whole community.

“It’s been fantastic to see our local community come together, young and
old, to work on this project and the final results should be
spectacular.”

As well as the poppies, the market hall display will also feature eight
soldier silhouettes, funded by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund and even a
life-sized display of a replica tank!

The Rotherham, Rawmarsh and Parkgate Branch of the Royal British Legion
will also be launching their annual Poppy Appeal on the same day.

The Poppy Cascade will be available to view from Monday 22 October for
four weeks, ending on November 17.

Local businesses in the town centre will also be doing their part to
commemorate the centenary of the end of WWI by putting up themed window
displays in the run up to Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday on
November 11.

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