Painting the town red to mark RBL anniversary
TO MARK the 85th anniversary of the Royal British Legion Branch in St Clears, the town has been painted red with thousands of poppies.
The majority of the 4,000 poppies are made from the bottom of plastic drink bottles that have been painted red, while some are also purple in memory of fallen animals in conflict, and others are white to represent peace.
They adorn the town’s war memorial, railings, bridge, as well as lampposts. A further 1,500 poppies have been crocheted, thanks to the community pulling together.
The chair of St Clears Royal British
Legion, Jane Rees, said: “I wanted to mark 85 years of the Legion in St Clears as well as those that served and the fallen.
“The bottle bottoms have a flower shape to them and were perfect for making poppies from and then painted.
“Between January and September we held workshops at Y Gat – The Gate in the town, where people helped create the poppies. We also had residents of Carmarthen’s Cartref
Cynnes care home in Johnstown help with crocheting.
“It’s been a real community effort but people from all over have helped, including Llanelli, and it looks great.
She added: “The poppies will remain in place until after Remembrance Sunday on November 13.”
Y Gat – The Gate has also been home to an exhibition of the 85 years of the St Clears RBL, which ended on Saturday. It included photos of the nine-month poppy making journey.
Jane’s husband Roy has taken over organising the town’s Poppy Appeal this year as well as the Carmarthen appeal.