Bath Abbey is preparing for Remembrance Day with a large display of the new poppy, unveiled this year. In the run up to Remembrance, Bath Abbey has been gifted a large-scale model of the new Remembrance Poppy which is plastic free and fully recyclable. Designed by local Bath studio Matter, the new poppy is fully paper, featuring no glue or plastic and is made using 50% recycled fibres from the production of coffee cups and 50% renewable wood fibre.
Every October and November, the Royal British Legion and Poppyscotland give out millions of poppies across the UK in return for a donation to the annual Poppy Appeal which provides support for serving and ex-service personnel and their families.
The Poppy Appeal director, Andy Taylor-Whyte says “We want to encourage as many people as possible to get a poppy this year and show their gratitude and support to those in the armed forces whose service and sacrifice should never be forgotten.
“We’re so proud that this year, we have our new plastic-free poppy too, so that the public can wear this poignant symbol of Remembrance, with less impact on the environment.
“Since the first poppy appeal in 1921 to today, public donations have provided a lifeline for service people and their families, and last year, we helped more than 27,000 people in the armed forces community.”
Matter, the studio who designed the new poppy, comments “This year marks the first change to the Poppy Appeal’s iconic remembrance symbol for 28 years. Proudly designed here in Bath, by Matter. Your new poppy is made from 100% paper, using 50% upcycled fibres. It is 100% recyclable via ordinary paper collections and a life cycle assessment shows a 40% reduction in carbon emissions. Other than that, the symbolic poppy remains unchanged.”
The large poppy is located inside the Abbey, in front of the West Doors, together with a prayer for Remembrance and a prayer for world peace.
Remembrance Services
The Dedication of the Field of Remembrance ceremony took place in the Abbey Church Yard on the afternoon of Sunday 5th November. The two minutes silence on Saturday 11th November will take place in the Abbey Church Yard, at the West Doors of Bath Abbey. At 11.00am a Bugler will mark the start and finish of the silence to remember those who lost their lives in the service of their country.
On Sunday 12th November at 10.30am, the Abbey will hold a special Remembrance Sunday Eucharist which will include the Act of Remembrance and mark the two minutes silence at 11.00am.
At 2.00pm there will be a Service of Remembrance in the Abbey, following the Royal British Legion Parade through the city. Everyone is welcome to watch the Parade and attend the service, for which no tickets are required.
More information is available on www.bathabbey.org.
Remembrance Concert
A Remembrance Concert will be held on Saturday 11th November at 7.00pm. The Bath Abbey Choirs will perform Maurice Duruflé’s evocative Requiem, one of the most beautiful and comforting works ever written. The concert will include music by Elizabethan composers William Byrd and Thomas Weelkes.
Tickets are available from the Bath Box Office.
Canon Guy Bridgewater, Rector of Bath Abbey, says: “The Abbey is greatly honoured to serve the city of Bath in this Remembrance season. We welcome everyone to join in remembering those who have given their lives in service of their country, and in praying for the peace for which they fought, to prevail again in this generation.”
