Following Sunday’s (29th October) opening ceremony and blessing, the St Anne’s Bell Ringers have thanked everyone who has helped create this amazing tribute.
A spokesperson for the Bell Ringers said, ‘Thank you to our vicar Fr Glen Brooks for his encouragement and support for the project.
Thank you so much to everyone who supported this project in any way.
A special thank you to all the St Anne’s bell ringers who helped with this project, from making poppies, buying the net, tying poppies to the net (and roping in their friends and family to help too!) helping to install the cascade and making cakes for the opening ceremony. It was a real team effort.
The opening ceremony was held on Sunday 29th October, where Fr Glen read out the words from Natalie Coupe below and then the cascade was blessed by Fr Ryan Otley our curate. There were about 150 people in attendance, including invited guests:
- Mark Menzies MP
- Fylde Mayor – Cllr Cheryl Little
- St Anne’s Mayor – Cllr Shirley Green
- Local Royal British Legion Chairman and Standard Bearer – Lee Townsend
- Headteacher from Heyhouses Endowed CofE Primary School – Elizabeth Hodgson
Words from Natalie Coupe, widow of St Anne’s resident, Sgt Nigel Coupe, killed in Afghanistan in 2012.
“It has been wonderful to see the church and the local community come together to create the poppy cascade. Many people have volunteered their time, skill and resources to put together this beautiful tribute to the fallen.
The cascade is a fitting tribute to all those who served, fought and died in conflicts all around the world.
I am sure everyone agrees on the importance of keeping their memories alive and hope that when people look at the cascade they think of their loved ones who served our country and reflect on their lives with happiness.”
Some photos from the ceremony. Thank you to Stuart Newton and Carole Smith for the photos.’
