Call for help knitting poppies

You may have seen details of a 'poppy project' the Council is running calling for volunteers to help the City make a special visual effort to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Armistice of World War I. A traditional service of remembrance, led by the Bishop of Newcastle, will be held on the morning of Sunday 11 November at the war memorial in old Eldon Square along with a parade of serving, veteran and cadet forces and support services. In the run up to that we plan to build on an idea of Wendy Parker who facilitated the yarn blanketing of Heaton Cemetery gates last year and blanket the old Eldon Square area with yarn poppies.

The Cty Council is calling for volunteers to knit and crochet hundreds of poppies to mark this centenary year through traditional crafts in such a charming and humbling way.

It also needs as many wool donations as possible to ensure we maximise the number of poppies for the Remembrance Sunday weekend and the tremendous visual impact they will have in the city. We hope that community groups, local clubs, knitting circles, schools, crafting groups, guide and scout groups, staff groups and individuals will join us in the yarn poppy campaign.

All of us today owe a huge debt of gratitude to all those who fought in the First World War, particularly to those who lost their lives for our liberty. One hundred years on, it is important that we show our respect and pay tribute to all those who fought in the conflicts and put themselves in harm's way for the greater good - for us.

The help of volunteers, and those who donate materials, will highlight that our city is saying 'Thank You' to the First World War generation who helped to shape our world as we know it today. In remembering and commemorating the centenary of the World War I armistice we are honouring the memory of those who made the greatest sacrifice and who we must ensure are never forgotten.

A knitting pattern and a crochet pattern, as well as a small amount of wool, is available for volunteers at the Civic Centre and we hope you'll also be able to use any spare wool you already have. Please ring reception on 0191 2115568 to check wool is still available before calling in.

If there is demand it may be able to hold a master class in knitting/crocheting poppies for members of the public who want to join in. if you are not creative but would like to be involved, volunteers are needed to put the poppies out w/c 5 November and collect them back in after 11 November. Please forward your name, contact details and availability to lord.mayor@newcastle.gov.uk or call 0191 2115050