The Friends of Crewkerne Station have been amazed and grateful for the huge numbers of hand made poppies that have been crafted for their Remembrance display. People from the Henhayes Centre, village ‘Knit and Natter’ groups, U3A, The British Legion and many, many individuals have contributed to this community project.
The volunteers at the station are mostly of the ‘Baby Boom’ era and have parents who fought in the second world war and grandparents who fought in the first world war. They have attached the hundreds of hand made poppies to netting which will enable them to be displayed at 2 locations at the station. The Stations Manager has been consulted about the position of the display and has agreed the back railings on the up platform and a bigger display on the sloping bank edging the car park using the existing fence and railings.
A larger soldier silhouette has been made and delivered by ‘ARK’ of Egwood and it will form a centre piece for the poppies. The volunteers will include an area for white poppies illustrating the wish for peace in our troublesome world.
The Friends are opening the display with a short presentation and a playing of the last post at 11am on Thursday October 29th. The poppies will be displayed there for the fortnight leading up to Remembrance day. On November 11th there will be a war poem reading and 2 minutes silence on the platform. People from Crewkerne and all the surrounding areas covered by the Blackmore Vale Community Rail Partnership are invited to visit the display and have a few moments remembering those who have sacrificed their lives in any conflicts.
ENDS
Photo shows a dress rehearsal for putting up the poppy display on the bank by the car park at Crewkerne Station.
Additional information
265 Crewkerne people lost their lives in the First World War
157 members of the community are named on one or more of the memorials below
- Roll of Honour in St Bartholomew’s Church. (ROHC)
- St Bartholomew’s Church Cross.
- WW1 Christchurch Choir Members. (CCM)
- Crewkerne Grammar School Memorial. (GSM)
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‘Tommy Memorial ‘, Severalls
- Falkland Square Memorial. (FS)
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Commonwealth War Grave in Crewkerne Cemetery (CWG)
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19 members of the community are commemorated on the brass memorial in the church of St Leonards, Misterton with a superb stained-glass window memorial
Standing with Giants at the Normandy memorial of D Day In 2024, a national WI call-out led by Standing with Giants volunteer and WI member Toni Briggs resulted in an incredible 37,000 handmade poppies being sent forming a key part of the Normandy display. In 2026 the WI have restored the plinths around the soldier storage crates and they invited WI members and individuals to knit or crochet additional poppies to add to the display.
Contact Gail Coleshill, Secretary, Friends of Crewkerne Station. 07811657798
