INSPIRED young ceramists are to create a field of poppies transforming a school quad into a poignant art installation of remembrance.
Students at Risedale Sports and community College, Hipswell, Catterick Garrison, will spend the next months hand moulding firing and painting up to 1,000 poppies inspired by the Sea of Poppies at the Tower of London.
Individually numbered with a certificate of authenticity, they will be sold for £5 each to students, staff, families and members of the community to raise much-needed funds for the Royal British Legion.
The school’s ceramicist Sheila Plews and service children advocates Helen Porritt and Ewan Thomson have been working on a prototype poppy.
All KS3 students will get to make one in lessons as will KS4 art students. KS4 students not taking art and staff will be offered the chance to make one over a lunch time.
Local primary school children will also be offered the chance to make a poppy and secure a place in the history of the school.
The sea of poppies will be created in time for the November 11 Remembrance Day celebrations and then dismantled and delivered to their new owners. Progress and a countdown to the 1,000 target will be available on the school’s Facebook page.
Mrs Porritt said: “Almost half of our students are from forces families and another 25 per cent are ex-military so the Royal British Legion is a cause very close to our hearts.
“The whole school is excited about the project and we hope that it will be a moving tribute to serving members of the armed forces and those who have given so much for their country.”
Student Cerys Cox, 13, said: “The Tower of London looked amazing and we hope that the smaller display in the quad will do justice to the concept and raise as much money as possible.”
