Chance to bid for unique poppies

Artists and performers have used their creative skills to commemorate the centenary end of the First World War.

Two Rutland artists have created bespoke poppies which will be auctioned off to raise money for the Royal British Legion.

Potter Dick Clarke and sculptor Julie Wilson each made three poppies which they have donated to the organisers of the Rutland Poppy Project.

Dick’s design is Raku fired giving each poppy an elegant blue metallic quality while Julie has sculpted her red poppies from coarse stoneware clay and they feature six petals. They will be sold through a silent auction with proceeds going to help servicemen and their families.

The poppies are on display at Oakham Library alongside bidding slips.

Bids can also be made online by e-mailing your name, which design of poppy you are bidding for, how much you are bidding, your contact telephone number and e-mail address to rutlandpoppyproject2018@gmail.com by 1pm on Saturday, November 24.

Alternatively post to: Rutland Poppy Project, c/o Catmose College, Huntsmans Drive, Oakham.

The Rotary Club of Uppingham hosted an event at The Falcon Hotel with songs, poems and prose from the wartime era.

In keeping with the theme, guests enjoyed a menu of typical wartime dishes like allotment maconochie stew and Manchester pudding.

Spokesman Carolyn Cartwright said: “The evening was a great success and enjoyed by all thanks to the performers, organisers and the innovative interpretation of war time rations by The Falcon chefs.”

Residents of St John’s and St Anne’s sheltered housing in Oakham also got creative to decorate their rose garden.

Connie Flaherty arranged for them to make poppies for the garden and decorated the chapel with her father’s First World War medals and photograph for their service.