A POIGNANT display of thousands of poppies will be unveiled at a school near Great Witley on this year’s Armistice Day.

Children from Abberley Hall School, alongside parents, staff and people from the community, have spent the past five weeks creating 7,000 ceramic poppies which will be trailed from the base of the school’s historic 161ft clock tower.

The project, which is being led by head of art Emma Symons, is inspired by the famous ‘Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red’ display which was erected on the Tower of London in 2014.

The display will be unveiled to the public at a special event on Sunday, November 11.

Abberley Hall’s head teacher Will Lockett, said: “Remembrance Day has always been a special day in our school calendar, but this year it’s even more important as it marks the centenary of the Armistice that brought the First World War to an end.

“With that in mind, we wanted to put together a really memorable tribute to the brave soldiers who so sadly lost their lives.

“Our clock tower can be seen from miles around so to have 7,000 ceramic poppies streaming from its base will be extra special and will provide a wonderful spectacle.

“Our pupils, their parents, our staff and lots of other people from the local area have worked so hard to make the poppies.

“When they are all in place I am certain the display will be stunning as it runs down the hill from the tower. It will take people’s breath away.”

Following the event, some of the 7,000 poppies will be used to make a permanent memorial site at the school. Donations for the poppies can also be made with proceeds going to the Royal British Legion and charity, Walking with the Wounded.

The school’s history has close links to the First World War. In 1916, following the Zeppelin bombing raids on London, the school’s founder Arthur Masson Kilby moved his 40 young boys from their school, Lindisfarne, in London’s Blackheath, to Abberley Hall to keep them safe during the conflict.

Its clock tower, built in 1884 by John Joseph Jones, played a key role in the Second World War after becoming a Home Guard Observation Post which helped to spot potential enemy raids on Birmingham.