by Cameron Brooks
A spectacular exhibition of 15,000 poppies to mark Remembrance Day is on display in an East Renfrewshire village.
A group of people led by Mary MacInnes of Eaglesham Parish Church knitted and crocheted the red, white and purple “flowers” in honour of those who died during the First World War, Second World War and other conflicts.
They have been laid in the garden of Kirkstile Cottage, pinned on the wall it shares with the church, spelling out the words “Lest We Forget”.
Poppies have also been pinned to the wall at the front of the church, outside the nearby parish church hall and at St Bridget’s Roman Catholic Church.
Some of them have been used to make a poppy fall on display inside the parish church.
The hard-wearing acrylic flowers were made by the Eaglesham Knitting and Crochet Club, which include kirk members.
Mrs MacInnes, 74, has been crocheting for 60 years and can make a single poppy in seven minutes.
She first started the project in 2018 and said the number of poppies produced has increased year on year.
Mrs MacInnes revealed that 1,200 new poppies were created by 25 people this year, mostly women save for two boys aged 14 and 11, bringing the total number on display to 15,000.
She said it took a group of volunteers, including her husband Bob, 10 days to erect the display, which will be on show until after Armistice Day, 11 November.
The project has been recognised in a motion of congratulations lodged in the Scottish Parliament.
Mrs MacInnes said: “Our annual display in memory of the fallen is now made up of 15,000 poppies, in memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice and in honour of all those who have served.
“Most of them are red for military personnel and we have white on display to honour non-combatants such as medics and clerics, anybody who made a vow of not harming another person.
“I would say they were the bravest of the brave, because they were in war zones but they had no weapons and just had to rely on their faith in God.”
Mrs MacInnes said the purple poppies represent animals that died in combat like horses and dogs.
“We have grant money to buy what is needed and started knitting the 1,200 poppies in September,” she explained.
“I handed out the balls of wool, the patterns and the hooks and needles to volunteers, if they need them, and I collected what they produced.
“It is a real privilege to be involved in this project and every year people tell us how colourful and poignant the displays are.
“We often get men who are retired servicemen saying they are honoured by the display in their honour and their comments make me feel very humble.”
Mrs MacInnes said it is important that younger people learn the lessons of the past.
“It’s not going to be very long before I won’t be here telling people about what happened during the wars,” she added.
“Soon there will not be anyone from my generation left and the fear is future generations might not be interested enough to tell their children what happened.
“But I am so heartened by the number of grannies and parents who visit the garden with young ones and explain the significance of the poppies and why they’re there.
“The display is to try and keep the awareness and the conversations going and it seems to work a treat and pupils from the local primary school have visited for a lesson.”
Mrs MacInnes said Eaglesham is a special place and the parish church is at the heart of the community.
“The village is made up of different community groups but we are ultimately Eaglesham people and we look after each other, help and support one another – it is a great place to live.”
Rev Jade Ableitner, minister of Eaglesham Parish Church, paid tribute to the group for its work to mark Remembrance Day.
“Mary and her team have worked so incredibly hard on this year’s poppy display, a huge well done goes to everyone involved,” she said.
“We always strive to be a church at the heart of our community and Remembrance Day is a day that is so important to us all.
“It is a day when we look back with gratitude at those who selflessly gave their lives for us.
“It’s also a day for us to reflect and strive for a more peaceful tomorrow.
“We must remember them.”
Mary MacInnes standing by ‘Lest we Forget’ display.