Your Help is Needed to Bring Poppies to Chesterfield
Residents and local history groups are being asked to help support a Chesterfield Borough Council bid to bring an iconic poppy display to the town.
The council submitted a bid in July last year on behalf of a number of organisations in the town for the Weeping Window artwork to be displayed in Chesterfield as part of a tour of UK locations.
The artwork is part of a larger installation by Chesterfield artist Paul Cummins that was on display at the Tower of London to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War.
Although the bid was unsuccessful the town has the opportunity to apply again when the next round of bids to display the sculpture in 2017 closes on 29 February.
To strengthen the town’s application further information is needed about our First World War story, both from the perspective of people who fought in the war but also on the home front.
Councillor Amanda Serjeant, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centre and visitor economy, said: “Artist Paul Cummins is from Chesterfield and got the inspiration for the sculpture while reading a book in Chesterfield library so there are strong links with the town.
“While it was disappointing that our previous bid wasn’t successful we believe it is worth trying again because of the strong public support we received when we made the application last time.
“What will strengthen the bid document will be us demonstrating the links Chesterfield has to the First World War story and this where we are hoping local history groups and residents can support us.
“We would be really keen to hear from anybody who has done any research into their family history about someone who lived during the First World War or more generally about the town’s role during the conflict.”
Anyone who has any information is asked to email bernadette.wainwright@chesterfield.gov.uk or ring Peter Hall on (01246) 345727 by Monday 22 February.
