Church poppy display remembers the fallen

A display of knitted poppies in All Saints' Church, King's Lynn, commemorates each of the 169 men from the South Lynn parish who had lost their lives in the First World War.

The display, in the shape of a crucifix, sits beneath the stained glass Memorial Window which includes the names of the fallen.

The idea was masterminded by church councillor Barbara Blacklock, who had been inspired by the Norfolk in World War One project.

The names of all the lives sacrificed from the parish of South Lynn are engraved on the memorial window inside All Saint's Church, King's Lynn. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant 2018)

The project calls on the people of Norfolk to create a poppy so that they can be displayed together in Norwich to remember the 15,500+ people who died in the war.

Ms Blacklock said she received an overwhelming response from the local community and a total of 250 poppies were knitted for the display, with the help of Linda Tuck, June Frost, Sylvia Calver, Diane Reardon, Lee Bramzell, Christine James, Sonia Snasdell, Jean Ashcroft, Gillian Lloyd and Marian Swinburn.

'We have embraced this project,' Ms Blacklock said. 'We've had a positive response and a lot of people are impressed by it. It looks fantastic.

250 knitted poppies are on display inside All Saint's Church in King's Lynn. Pictured is Barbara Blacklock. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant 2018)

June Frost added: 'It's the big anniversary this year, I think this is quite special.

'It's nice for the families of those who died to know we still remember them.'

In a chance meeting, Diane Reardon said she was visited by the grandson of James Barnaby - a Lynn man who died in the war - who once lived in her home. 'He told me a lot about him and what he was like,' she said. 'He was visiting from Guernsey and he said he had seen the display.'

250 knitted poppies are on display inside All Saint's Church in King's Lynn. Pictured is Barbara Blacklock. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant 2018)

The poppy display will remain in the church until early October when it will be sent to the Norfolk and Norwich Millennium Library where it will be split into smaller displays for the county's libraries for November 11.

To get involved in the Norfolk in World War One project, visit: norfolkinworldwar1.org.

250 knitted poppies are on display inside All Saint's Church in King's Lynn. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant 2018)

250 knitted poppies are on display inside All Saint's Church in King's Lynn. Pictured is Barbara Blacklock. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant 2018)