The Knit and Natter Group in Burgh le Marsh has created hundreds of poppies to turn the grass area around the Clock Tower in Skegness red for an ambitious Remembrance Day display by the Skegness branch of the Royal British Legion.
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00:00 It may need thousands of poppies to turn the clock tower roundabout in Skegness,
00:05 Poppy Red, for Remembrance Day but these ladies have already knitted hundreds.
00:09 We've come along to Knitters and Knatters in Borough of Marsh. Now the ladies are doing a
00:14 really good job with these poppies. You must be thrilled. Absolutely thrilled.
00:17 They've already said they've got hundreds. They're up to a couple of
00:20 hundred which is amazing. How is the campaign going? It's going great. Got the
00:24 approval from the council to have used the ground around the clock tower which
00:29 is brilliant. We had a donation from a lady who sadly passed away which we are
00:37 going to use towards a silhouette of a Tommy with a gun and that will also be
00:42 part of this display. So with the setting of the poppies it's going to be amazing.
00:47 It'll look really dramatic and as the ladies have pointed out all these poppies
00:52 are different sizes, different colour wool, so that as an overview will look amazing.
00:57 And you still need hundreds more. We need hundreds. We're into thousands now because we
01:01 finally actually went to the roundabout and had a little look at how much grass
01:05 there is. There's a lot of grass there. So thousands we're up to now. This group has
01:12 been going for six months you're telling me. So how did you get involved with
01:20 making the poppies? Annie came one day and said she'd met somebody. How did you do Annie?
01:28 You've got a bag full there. You've been busy.
01:32 Now I understand that you got the ladies involved in this project. Can you explain how?
01:40 Well I see it advertised on Facebook and so I printed off some leaflets and some
01:47 patterns and ladies decided that they'd all get involved.
01:52 We all got a pattern done with June. June couldn't see her pattern so I've done it in big font.
02:01 So there's no excuse. Everyone can make a poppy. That's it. June's made all these now.
02:09 Wow. Yeah that's really impressive. So tell me about the poppy you're making.
02:20 Is that one that you've crocheted? No, knitted.
02:26 And then just made a little...
02:28 Some have buttons.
02:30 We have all got buttons.
02:32 How long do you think you're going to keep going making poppies?
02:38 Until they've got enough.
02:40 Until they don't want any more.
02:42 Okay. I guess you're getting through quite a lot of red wool. Would it be helpful if people bring some wool to the windmill for you?
02:52 Yes.
02:54 I think it would.
02:56 Now we have to come and have a chat to Eve Lister. I understand you're the oldest member of this group. Can I say how old you are?
03:06 I'm 98.
03:08 98. So how long have you been knitting?
03:12 Most of those 98. No, that's not right. I started knitting I suppose during the war. With intervals. I've knitted in various places since. So quite a long time.
03:30 So about these poppies, are they easy to make? Can we have a look at what you're doing?
03:35 Well I've only just started another one.
03:38 That's another one is it?
03:40 Yes.
03:41 So are the ones on the tables, are they yours?
03:44 No, they belong to Jean.
03:46 Everybody's busy knitting aren't they? So how long does it take to make a poppy would you say?
03:52 I thought it was really quick but I had a bad day yesterday when I thought I'm going to make a poppy today and it was a disaster day.
04:02 Oh dear. Oh well we all have those.
04:05 Some days are disasters. So I didn't really get on very well yesterday.
04:10 So how many do you normally make in a day?
04:13 Well I would normally expect, because I'm pretty slow, you know I'm not as excellent as some of these people, so I would expect to get one done in a day.
04:23 Oh, I think so.
04:25 If I get any faster I might be lucky.
04:29 [Laughter]
04:31 The Knit and Knatters group meets at Borough of Marsh Windmill Cafe on Wednesdays from 10am to 12 noon.
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