Knitters answer call to create wall of 3,000 poppies

Thousands of knitted poppies have gone on display in the town centre to launch this year’s Royal British Legion poppy appeal.

Volunteers at the Ashford Gateway centre first asked residents to knit the flowers in July.

They have now gone on display at the building in Church Road, with organisers receiving about 3,000 poppies to put on show.

Gateway co-ordinator Hayley Welsh said: “A big thank you to everyone who has donated their time and effort to knitting poppies.

“It is overwhelming how the community has come together to support the Royal British Legion.

“One lovely lady, at 87 years of age, knitted 245 poppies.

“About 3,000 poppies have been donated so far and the poppy wall will be kept on display for a few weeks then stored and used again next year.”

Ashford will remember those who lost their lives fighting for their country on Sunday, November 12.

The annual Remembrance Day Service will be held in the Memorial Gardens at 11am.

People attending are asked to arrive 10 minutes before the service begins.

Maroons will be fired from North Park at 11am to mark the beginning of the two minutes’ silence, before being fired again to signify the end.

There will be restricted access to the Memorial Gardens from Church Road but visitors will be able to access the gardens via the Vicarage Lane or Station Road entrances.

Free parking is available in the Vicarage Lane and Edinburgh Road car parks.

Road closures will be in place as the Remembrance parade will begin at the Rowcroft Barracks in Chart Road, before ending at the Memorial Gardens.

A maroon will also be fired on Armistice Day – Saturday, November 11 – at 11am and at 11.02am in the Memorial Gardens to mark the occasion.

Picture: Chris Davey Jenny Hills, Carolyn Perring, Joyce Catt and Carol Johnson were among those who contributed to the poppy wall with Richard Cast, Kent chairman of the Royal British Legion