A Poppy Net in Ferryhill has received a blessing in a special service.
The net on the front of Ferryhill Town Hall was created to represent the 19,240 British Soldiers killed on the 1st July 1916 during the Battle of the Somme. A group of residents known locally as ‘Team Poppy’ originally created the net in 2017.
Members of the group joined Councillors and residents to observe the blessing in the Town Hall gardens. The Blessing of the Net was carried out by St. Luke’s Church and was attended by the Lord Lieutenant’s representative, Dr Robert Mcmanners. The Last Post was played by Ex Bugle Major Garry Suggett.
As part of commemorations marking 100 years of remembrance, Ferryhill Remembers in association with Ferryhill Town Council will be displaying the net which contains handcrafted poppies made by residents of West Cornforth, Ferryhill, Coxhoe, Bowburn and further afield including people from abroad, on the front of Ferryhill Town Hall for several weeks.
Clare Metcalfe, a Member of Team Poppy said: “Everyone involved in this project feels proud and privileged to have been involved in Team Poppy. The project has brought the community together. By displaying the poppy net in such a prominent position, on the front of Ferryhill Town Hall, where it will receive lots of attention, it will ensure that residents remember the enormous sacrifice that has been made by our troops. On behalf of the Ferryhill Remembers Team I would like to thank Ray Seymour and all of the Town Hall staff for their invaluable support in making this display achievable.”
Mayor of Ferryhill, Councillor David Farry said “When Team Poppy approached Ferryhill Town Council everyone agreed that it would be a pleasure and a privilege to display the poppy net on the front of the Town Hall building. The very nature of what the net represents is so very significant. Team Poppy has created an outstanding and poignant memorial to those British Soldiers who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their Country, they should be very proud of what they have achieved.”