Newtownstewart Presbyterian Church Festival of Poppies

Members of the event fundraising committee, Amanda Brown, Richard Black, Robert Brown, Jim Hunter and Carol Robinson, with a display of poppies made from painted plastic bottle bottoms and crocheted and knit poppies which will be displayed inside and outside the church during the Festival of Poppies. AN442926 | TC

placeholder image — Members of the event fundraising committee, Amanda Brown, Richard Black, Robert Brown, Jim Hunter and Carol Robinson, with a display of poppies made from painted plastic bottle bottoms and crocheted and knit poppies which will be displayed inside and outside the church during the Festival of Poppies. AN442926 | TC

Newtownstewart Presbyterian Church committee members have been hard at work this week putting the final touches to its Poppies of Remembrance festival.

NEWTOWNSTEWART Presbyterian Church committee members have been hard at work this week putting the final touches to its Poppies of Remembrance festival.

The festival opens on Wednesday, November 4 at 7.30pm followed by a talk at 8pm by Mr Francie Pancott on ‘The Reflection of a WW2 Soldier’.

Ann Crawford and June McElhill glueing coloured bottle tops to plywood to form an RAF roundel for the Festival of Poppies. AN443026 | TC

Sisters, Elaine Managh and Wilma Hughes put the finishing touches to a 'Lest We Forget' sign during the preparation for the Festival of Poppies. AN443126 | TC

Following the opening night, viewing times are as follows: Thursday, November 5, 3pm to 9pm, Friday, November 6, 10am to 9pm and Saturday, November 7, 10am to 9pm.

All proceeds will go to Church Funds and the Poppy Appeal.

Sisters Ann and Dorothy Crawford and Heather Stuart, sewing hand made poppies onto a horse's saddle during preparation for the Festival of Poppies in Newtownstewart Presbyterian Church. AN442826 | TC

Richard Black, who has collected over 100 military cap badges, and Carol Robinson, sew the badges onto hand made poppies and on to a crocheted blanket. AN442726 | TC

Jim Hunter, a church elder, displays a framed collage of photographs and medals donated by Newtownstewart native, Billy Dunbar. The photos and medals are of three uncles, Johnny, William and Thomas Dunbar, who lost their lives in WW1. Billy's father, Samuel, served in the two World Wars and was at the evacuation of Dunkirk, later became a postman around Newtownstewart. AN442626 | TC

“It’s full steam ahead with project poppies. We are all excited to see our creations come together, and seeing the final result and sharing them with you,” said a church committee spokesperson.

“Also, tickets are now limited for our Festival of Remembrance on November 11 at 7.30pm in the 2000 Centre, so get your tickets by DM us on Facebook or contacting a member of the church committee.”