Queen Camilla lays final poppy on cascade commemorating 80 years since end of WW2

Her Majesty The Queen placed the final poppy on a striking display of the faux flowers, which commemorated 80 years since the end of the Second World War.  

The spectacular cascade of thousands of knitted and crocheted poppies draping the church tower at St Bartholomew's Church was a community-led tribute coordinated by the Peacock Women's Institute.

The group launched The Poppy Project at the start of the year, with a goal to create 10,000 poppies for display in the town of Corsham. 

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In a remarkable outpouring of support, the group received more than 31,000 homemade poppies from across the UK and overseas, including schools, youth organisations, residential homes and businesses in the area.

Pippa Owen, secretary of the Peacock WI, said: "People have been posting [the poppies], we've had big packages from all over the UK, Scotland, Isle of Wight, but also from Canada, Los Angeles, Germany, Netherlands – it's mad.

"It's just brought this really nice feeling to a lot of people. It's their act of remembrance. 

"We actually were a little bit cheeky, and we wrote to [the Queen]… and then in about June or July, they said, 'well, she might come'."

Lest We Forget

During her visit, Queen Camilla visited the Martingate Shopping Centre, home to a dedicated Poppy Shop which provides free knitting lessons and serves as the community's creative hub.

The Queen met the volunteers involved in making the poppies and saw first-hand how they were crafted and assembled.

She also viewed some of the decorated shop fronts and flower planters and met members of youth groups Wadswick Green Retirement Village, who helped bring the project alive.

At St Bartholomew's Church, the Queen was welcomed by the Acting Bishop of Swindon and the Reverend Dr Andrew Johnson.

Queen Camilla laid a wreath at the First World War memorial, before attaching the final poppy to complete the striking cascade adorning the 12th-century church.  

Inside, the Queen met representatives from the Royal British Legion, St Bartholomew's Church, and Peacock WI Corsham, before departing.

The display not only captured the spirit of remembrance but also the strength of community in honouring the past.