The commemorative stone cairn at Anderson High School in Lerwick has been decorated, this year with a ‘cascade’ of woollen poppies as a symbol of Remembrance for those who have died in conflict.
The cairn at the front of Anderson High School has been covered in around 1800 knitted and crocheted poppies. This year’s design includes 400 newly-knitted poppies, and features a ‘cascade’ of poppies inspired by Remembrance displays elsewhere, including the 2014 installation which saw waves of poppies on the walls and in the moat of the Tower of London.
The poppies have been created by pupils, staff and parents connected with the school, and from knitters further afield including overseas. Also included this year are some poppies made from the painted bases of plastic bottles, created by Ability Shetland’s social club.
Poppies are on display on various windows of the school, cut out by S1-S3 pupils. Lessons this week will cover Remembrance themes, with pupils will also writing Remembrance ‘postcards’ for those former pupils who died in conflict. The school will also host a small ceremony at 11am on Armistice Day, Monday 11th November, at the school’s War Memorial, which lists all former pupils of the Anderson Educational Institute who died in the First and Second World Wars.
Pupils will be fundraising for Poppy Scotland, the Scottish Armed Forces Charity, during morning breaks this week. The S5/6 Practical Cookery class is preparing a staff lunch option, with profits also to the same cause.
Robin Calder, Head Teacher at Anderson High School said: “The school cairn is again decorated for Remembrance as a focal point for the school, and this year’s cascade of poppies looks striking. Alongside the classroom and fundraising activities by pupils, Remembrance is an important topic for pupils, to understand the impact that past conflicts had in Shetland and elsewhere."