Morpeth school’s poppy tribute blossoms to life

A wall of poppies has blossomed outside a Morpeth school to mark Remembrance Day in eye-catching style.

The children at St Robert’s Catholic First School each contributed a poppy to the display, which has been arranged on the front of the building to commemorate the occasion and will remain on show for the next two weeks.

“All year groups were involved in creating poppies to be displayed on the front of the school,” said David Sutcliffe, Headteacher at St Robert’s, which is a member of the Bishop Bewick Catholic Education Trust.

“All the poppies were laminated so that they could survive the elements, and they have been velcroed on so that we can adapt the display year on year.”
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The school’s Art Lead, Alice Butler, worked with the pupils to paint and varnish the display boards for the memorial, as well as overseeing the week-long poppy-making project.

It is the eighth year that St Robert’s has staged its colourful Remembrance Day display, which also includes a tribute to the animals that lost their lives in the First World War.

“The pupils are very proud of the display,” continued Mr Sutcliffe. “They love to show how they remember those who lost their lives in conflict. They also create a purple heart for the horses lost in World War One.

“The community has come to expect the school to create a display, and we always receive amazing feedback from the community.”

He added: “Morpeth, as a town, ensures the Remembrance Day procession is an important part in the community’s year, and the veterans are very active in commemorating this day.

“As a school, we recognise its importance and always feel that we want to contribute to it, to show the community that we continue to educate the pupils about the past, and how important those who lost their lives were for our future today. But more importantly, we talk to the pupils about peace, and how we need to continue to pray for peace in our world today.”