Commemorating Remembrance Day at The Meadows

Tenants, friends, and family at The Meadows come together to create a memorable tribute for Remembrance Day.

A touching Remembrance tribute has taken pride of place at The Meadows, where tenants, families, and visitors have joined forces to create a handmade poppy display honouring those who served for our country.

The project began several months ago with a simple vision — to create something meaningful that would bring the community together in remembrance. Every poppy in the display has been individually handcrafted, making the tribute both personal and heartfelt.

At the centre of the display stands a striking soldier silhouette, affectionately named Stanley, which was custom-made by the local Men’s Shed group. Their craftsmanship and generosity have helped bring the vision to life.

The Meadows’ Knitting and Natter group also played a huge role, working tirelessly to knit and crochet hundreds of poppies. Their dedication and creativity shine through in every detail.

“I lost my great uncle in the war but I never knew about him until going through our family tree, I then managed to find an old photograph of him and he looked so much like my dad, also I remember at just 15 years old all the Japanese prisoners of war returning home and it was horrendous, I have a great respect for our soldiers and wanted to be a part of creating something so beautiful to remember all those who fought for us” said Vivienne Flood a tenant at The Meadows.

The tribute has drawn an outpouring of praise from visitors, many of whom have stopped to take photos, share kind words, and reflect on family members who served. It has become a powerful focal point for conversation and connection across the community.

In addition to the display, The Meadows is also raising funds for the Royal British Legion through poppy sales, adding an extra layer of purpose and gratitude to the project.

“This has been a real team effort,” added Janet Clapham. “I feel it is a very good cause, and I like to feel a part of making the display, it was so nice having everyone come together to create such a beautiful display to remember those who fought for us”.

Clare Cordy wellbeing coordinator said “A huge thank you to everyone, all the tenants, especially the incredible knitting natter group, families, and staff who helped bring our Remembrance Day poppy display to life. Everyone’s hard work and creativity have truly paid off! The display is simply stunning and perfectly captures the wonderful community spirit we share here at The Meadows. It’s something we can all be proud of.”

This meaningful project has not only paid tribute to those who served but also strengthened the sense of community within The Meadows — a reminder of what can be achieved when people come together with a shared purpose.

The response has been overwhelming. Visitors have been taking photos, sharing stories, and reminiscing about family members who served for our country. It has become a real conversation starter and a beautiful way to bring our community together. We’re also raising money for the Royal British Legion through poppy sales, adding even more meaning to this project.

A huge thank you to all our tenants and our wellbeing team for making this vision a reality, their dedication shines through in every detail. We’re already planning next year’s display, and we hope it will be even bigger and better!

Find out more about life at The Meadows here.