Hand-knitted tribute to Torphins war casualties

A mother and daughter have created a hand-crafted tribute to men lost during the first and second world wars.

Tina Thomas and her mother, Ann, spent months knitting more than 500 poppies in memory of the fallen.

The poppies are interwoven on a bridge that leads to Mid Deeside Church in Torphins, Aberdeenshire.

After the church’s remembrance service tomorrow, attendees will cross the bridge on their way to the local war memorial.

On the memorial are the 65 names of Torphin residents killed or reported missing during the First World War, and eight names from the Second World War.

Ms Thomas said: “The original inspiration for the project was seeing images of the poppies at the Tower of London in 2014 – it was such a poignant tribute.

“I am originally from Kent, where my parents still live and last year there were knitted poppy installations in Canterbury and surrounding villages which gave me the idea to create my own tribute in Torphins.

“My mother and I started knitting poppies in April when we decided to decorate the bridge to the church and knitted the very last poppy in October.

“The poppies are to mark 100 years since the end of WWI and are a symbol of our respect for everyone who fought in the conflicts, so many killed or injured.

“I’m hoping the church will let me place the poppies in future years, those fallen shouldn’t just be remembered on the 100th anniversary.”

Resident Kristina Foldager saw the poppies on her way to a class in the church’s main hall. She said: “I was just bowled over – it’s absolutely beautiful. Every part of it is knitted, even the green “string.” The work, effort, time, passion and skill that’s been put into this is amazing.”