The story of The Launton Poppy Cascades

On Remembrance Day 11 November Launton had new and colourful additions for the 11 o’clock Service. There were Poppy Cascades with over 4,000 hand-made poppies displayed at the War Memorial and the Village Pump, and Remembrance Toppers on the two post boxes. The project to create and display the poppies was started in March after two villagers, Mary Carter and Isobel Jennion, had an idea to decorate the village War Memorial and the Silent Soldiers for Remembrance Day, and more importantly to honour and pay respect to those who have fought and continue to fight for our country and our freedoms. Isobel had been involved in a Poppy Cascade in her previous village, we decided to have a go in Launton, and to include the whole community.

Lesley Thompson from the group explains: “Our first meeting was in March when we presented our ideas. We had a great response and decided on monthly progress meetings over a cuppa in the Parish Hall. “Very early on we measured and cut camouflage netting for the display at each site so that at every meeting the installations could be constructed with the poppies.”

The group started quite ambitiously, aiming for 1,000 poppies and decorating the War Memorial and the old Village Pump. Depending on the number of poppies, they hoped to make tree huggers, wreaths, garlands and a ‘poppy flow’ from the pump.

“At every meeting, and in between, we accumulated more and more poppies and eventually had 4,060 - all different sizes, many shades of red and purple, and white ones, not only knitted, but crocheted, sewn and made from other mediums, including metal and some beautiful ceramic poppies made by Kathryn Balmford of Marsh Gibbon.

“The school made their own poppies, and some children attached them to the tree huggers that we made, along with other poppies.”

There are also two post-box toppers at the Post Office and by the water pump, made by a group member, depicting a ‘Tommy’ and a Spitfire.

The Poppy Cascades involved over 50 people. The Parish Council backed the community activity and bought lamp post poppies that were put up round the village by volunteers. It was supported by local businesses: Jewsons in Launton gave materials for display frames, and camouflage netting came through Bicester-based D27Vinyl Wrapping.

See pages 24-25 for photos of the Cascade project. All the poppies are in storage for use next year.

Just Giving information was displayed at all locations, which donated directly to The Royal British Legion. The Cascaders hope that their activities will increase donations from the village to add to the house-to-house collection by volunteers.

Robert Cornford