20,000 poppies fill the grounds of Willow Court in Remembrance

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"2732","attributes":{"class":"media-image aligncenter size-full wp-image-10783","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"550","height":"366","title":"Willow Poppies 4","alt":""}}]] On 11th November Willow Court in Harpenden held a very special event in partnership with the Royal British Legion to commemorate the contribution of all those who served during the war, and to remember those lost. The home received 20,000 poppies from the Royal British Legion to fill the grounds of the Home as part of their Veterans Tea Party celebration. [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"2733","attributes":{"class":"media-image aligncenter size-full wp-image-10784","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"550","height":"366","title":"Willow Poppies 1","alt":""}}]]The event began with an address by Maria Ball, Chief Executive. A bugler then played the Last Post followed by a minutes silence and then a Reveille. Wreaths were laid and then the prayers were led by Reverend Becky Leach from St Mary's Church. The children from nearby Crabtree School then read a remembrance poem and the service concluded with a roll call led by Harpenden Town Mayor Councillor Mary Maynard. [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"2734","attributes":{"class":"media-image aligncenter size-full wp-image-10785","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"550","height":"825","title":"Willow Poppies 3","alt":""}}]]After a cup of tea to warm everybody up, the Mayor then went on to present veterans badges to residents Marjorie Ditchfield, Harry Sheldon and Anthony Stevens. Willow Court Home Manager Trish Daniel presented a cheque to representatives of the Royal British Legion, Beverley Crofts, Chair of the Harpenden branch, Rosemary Crofts, Secretary for the Harpenden Branch and Deputy Poppy Appeal Organiser, and Natasha Robertson, Community Fundraiser. The event finished with readings from some of the residents and Neet, one of Willow Court’s Activities organisers. [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"2735","attributes":{"class":"media-image aligncenter size-full wp-image-10786","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"550","height":"366","title":"Willow Poppies 5","alt":""}}]]Well done to the staff and volunteers at Willow Court who all worked so hard to make the day a really special one for our residents. A big thank you also goes to MG Builders for helping with the set up, and Snips the Barbers of Harpenden for providing us with a barber to help our veterans look smart on their special day. Finally, special thanks to Ernest Large, one of our family members from Elmhurst who brought the Out Of Sight, But Not Forgotten project to Quantum Care. To see further photos of this fantastic event, please visit our Facebook Page