{"id":1483,"date":"2024-06-06T08:39:15","date_gmt":"2024-06-06T07:39:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.firstport.co.uk\/over-300-poppies-knitted-for-d-day-remembrance-display-at-luton-retirement-development\/"},"modified":"2024-06-06T08:39:15","modified_gmt":"2024-06-06T07:39:15","slug":"over-300-poppies-knitted-for-d-day-remembrance-display-at-luton-retirement-development","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.firstport.co.uk\/community\/over-300-poppies-knitted-for-d-day-remembrance-display-at-luton-retirement-development\/","title":{"rendered":"Over 300 poppies knitted for D-Day remembrance display at Luton retirement development"},"content":{"rendered":"

A group of FirstPort residents in Luton have been working with their local community groups to knit over 300 poppies for a D-Day remembrance display at their retirement development.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Jane Angell, 65, and Chris Gore, 73<\/span> \u2013 residents at FirstPort\u2019s Popes Court development in Luton\u2013 had just a few months to plan and create the display which consists of dozens of knitted soldiers and hundreds of poppies.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The pair roped in support from their neighbours, local church group, and community hub to create the display, while their local B&Q donated the backing for the display.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The remembrance display, which is mounted around the fireplace in the communal lounge of the development for all residents and visitors to view, is in place to mark the 80<\/span>th<\/span> anniversary of D-Day on Thursday 6<\/span>th<\/span> June.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Jane explained: \u201cI came up with the idea in February to create a display to remember the lives of those lost during the D-Day landings. We\u2019ve knitted hundreds of poppies and I\u2019ve knitted airmen, soldiers and sailors to make up part of the display.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI wanted to remember everyone and everything that we lost that day. It is terribly sad to think that the majority of the lives lost that day were only an average age of 18 to 20 and they gave their lives for us. It is a mark of respect, 80 years on from that day.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSome of our residents would have been children at the time of the D-Day landings and their parents may have even been there so it\u2019s important we mark this day and remember.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There are four colours of poppies in the display to mark those lost during the D-Day landings on the 6<\/span>th<\/span> June 1944. These are:\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n