Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust and Nucleus Arts, with support from Medway Council, have announced that the Threads of Remembrance project has grown beyond expectation, with more than 20,000 handmade poppies from the community, far surpassing the original goal of 11,000.
The poppies form a striking installation at the National Destroyer Memorial at The Historic Dockyard Chatham. The tribute has been unveiled in the lead-up to Salute to the ‘40s and will remain on display until Armistice Day.
Each poppy represents one of the 11,000 men who lost their lives aboard the 142 Royal Navy destroyers sunk during the Second World War. At the heart of the memorial stands HMS Cavalier, the last surviving Royal Navy destroyer of the Second World War.
Lynnette Crisp, Director of Public Engagement, Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust said, “Threads of Remembrance has grown far beyond anything we imagined, and we are deeply grateful to everyone who has contributed. Every handmade poppy carries a message of remembrance, love and respect. We are also grateful to the volunteers who devoted hundreds of hours to building the installation. Attaching thousands of poppies has been no small task, and their commitment has been incredible.”
David Stokes, Chief Executive, Halpern Charitable Foundation said, “It has been a privilege to work alongside Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust and Medway Council to make this vision a reality. Partnerships like this show what’s possible when heritage and creativity come together. Threads of Remembrance also proves that art can do more than decorate, it can unite, heal, and give us a powerful way to remember and get involved.
“The Threads of Remembrance installation stands as a symbol of shared remembrance during the 80th anniversary year of the end of the Second World War.”
To find out more, visit www.thedockyard.co.uk.
