Ponteland remembrance wall unveiled after appeal produced thousands of knitted poppies

The Remembrance Day Service at Ponteland’s War Memorial this year will be enhanced by a magnificent Poppy Sail on the outside wall of Ponteland's Memorial Hall.

Volunteers from the Northumberland community with knack for knitting got involved in an ambitious idea, after an appeal earlier this year to create an impressive display for Remembrance Day saw a huge local response.

The outcome of the real community effort saw volunteers work together to help produce an impressive four meter poppy sail - created from thousands of knitted poppies - which was unveiled outside Ponteland Memorial Hall on Friday November 1.

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Ponteland Memorial Hall Charity Trustee, Steve Colman who led the project said: "Ponteland Memorial Hall has for over a hundred years been a reminder of those from Ponteland who made the ultimate sacrifice. At this time of the year many people think about the past and remember those who heroically died or were badly maimed because of wars.

"After new Trustees were found two years ago, we began to look at how to imagine some ideas in order to raise awareness for the Ponteland Memorial Hall. We have had Weddings, Retro Discos, Up and coming Country singer Hayley McKay, Art sales and following last years success we have another two day ale festival to come towards the end of November.

"The idea has been to show that we are open for the local community all year round and we'd love more people to come along and use the Memorial Hall and not just once a year for its original purpose.

"We discovered that, after announcing we had a special poppy piece of knitted handiwork in the pipeline which needed help, we were amazed to get a huge response from the community including the youngest, Philippa Varley, just 16 years old.

"After having the event last year we noticed that visitors graduated to the Remembrance bench to pay their respects and thought that this would be a good place to centre the poppy wall display."

An Act of Remembrance will be held at the Ponteland’s War Memorial on Sunday, November 10, 2024 commencing at 10.55am with a two minute’s silence at 11.00am. Refreshments will be available at the Hall after the Service.

Volunteers assisting in making the sail alongside Ponteland Memorial Hall Trustees Steve Colman and John Lowdon included coordinators Susan Dorani and Stephanie Ord, induvial members of the local community and residents and staff of the local Royal Hampton Care Home. The Poppy Sail will stand across from the Grade II listed Ponteland War Memorial, unveiled in July 1920.

Steve added: "We are very grateful to the Trustees and Volunteers who have made this year’s Remembrance Day Service one to remember with the poppy sail."

"We had numerous visitors to the hall for refreshments last year and look to welcome many more this Remembrance Sunday November 10. You can find out more at Pontelandmemorialhall.com."