The commemorative stone cairn at Anderson High School in Lerwick has today been decorated with woollen poppies to mark Armistice Week, remembering the end of the First World War in November 1918.
Around 1400 poppies have been knitted and crocheted to create a display over the cairn at the front of the school, as a symbol of remembrance for those who died in the First World War and in conflicts since.
The poppies have been created by pupils and staff at the school, as well as from parents and from knitters further afield. Copies of the knitting and crochet patterns were available during the recent Shetland Wool Week and a small number of poppies have since been made and sent in from overseas.
Poppies are also on display on various windows of the school and lessons this week will cover Remembrance themes – such as ‘Why’ we should Remember, and pupils will write Remembrance messages.
Pupils in S1-S3 will be fundraising for the Scottish Poppy Appeal during morning break time this week, and the S5/6 Practical Cookery class is preparing a staff lunch option, with profits also to the same cause.
There will be a small ceremony on Friday morning at the school’s War Memorial, where the names are listed of all former pupils at the Anderson Educational Institute who died in the First and Second World Wars.
Lerwick Town Hall will also be lit red this weekend in support of the Scottish Poppy Appeal, which is led each year by Scottish Armed Forces Charity, Poppy Scotland. Wreaths will be laid at the County War Memorial in Lerwick at 11am on Remembrance Sunday.
Robin Calder, Head Teacher at Anderson High School said: “It’s important that pupils understand the themes of Remembrance and the impact that past conflicts have had on the Shetland community and elsewhere. Our school cairn is now decorated for Armistice Week as a focal point for the school, alongside the classroom and fundraising activities by pupils."