Thousands of ceramic poppies have been planted at the International Bomber Command Centre to create the shape of a Lancaster bomber ahead of the 80thanniversary of VE Day.
The AVRO Lancaster is one of the most recognisable sights of British aviation, entering service with Bomber Command in 1942 and quickly establishing itself as the Royal Air Force’s main heavy bomber.
To commemorate the plane and represent all of those who were part of the war effort, the IBCC in Lincoln has created a unique display to mark VE and VJ Day 80.
More than 22,000 handmade ceramic poppies have been planted - with planning, sculpting and planting the installation talking almost two years.
Thousands of ceramic poppies have been planted at the International Bomber Command Centre to create the shape of a Lancaster bomber ahead of the 80thanniversary of VE Day
GB News
Nicky van der Drift is the Chief Executive of the centre and told GB News about the response its already received.
She said: “It's been an enormous amount of work. There's a lot of passion that has gone into this, a lot of planning, but also, excitement.
“I can't wait to see people's reactions to it. Whilst it's been in progress visitors' comments have been amazing. A lot of them very emotional, a lot of them remembering individuals.
“For me, this is the individual story singing together in an orchestra of voices.”
Also sculpted for the anniversaries this year are 617 poppies placed in The Spire Memorial to remember 617 squadron - The Dambusters.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
More than 22,000 handmade ceramic poppies have been planted - with planning, sculpting and planting the installation talking almost two years
GB News
Chairman of the IBCC, Air Chief Marshal Sir Michael Graydon, says the display is a chance to remember and educate the younger generation.
He told GB News: “It traces the history of war and the tragedy of war, but at the same time the importance of remembrance.
“Something I think we've increasingly appreciated the need for is education, and there’s perhaps not enough of it in schools.
“Schools are now coming to us, and we're delighted to have them here.”
In a special service, members of the UK, US, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand forces laid the final poppies in place before it was officially unveiled.
Memories of VE Day and the contributions from across the Commonwealth wrap around the rest of the display.
To commemorate the plane and represent all of those who were part of the war effort, the IBCC in Lincoln has created a unique display to mark VE and VJ Day 80
GB News
Nicky van der Drift is the Chief Executive of the centre and told GB News about the response its already received
GB News
Deputy Lieutenant for Lincolnshire and co-lead for VE 80 Lincoln, Sue Liburd MBE, said the poppies bring attention to the global effort of the allied forces.
She said: “We had countries from around the world: from Canada, from New Zealand, from India, from the Caribbean, from South Africa and from Africa.
“So for me, the uniqueness of every single poppy is representative of the uniqueness of the huge collaboration and coalition that came together for us to have victory in Europe 80 years ago.”
The Lancaster poppy display was created by artist Darius Sirmulevicius, originally from Lithuania but now living in Lincolnshire.
To create a lasting legacy from the display, each one is being sold to raise funds for three charities: the Lincolnshire Bomber Command Memorial Education programmes, the British West India Regiments Heritage Trust and the Wooden Spoon Trust.
If you would like to buy a poppy from the display, click here.
