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REMEMBERING THE 888,246
One of the most iconic structures in London, the Tower Of London, a place we have probably all visited, with children, family and friends, recently played host to a project of massive scale and significance. The Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red is the moving and astonishingly striking display of 888,246 ceramic poppies planted in the dry moat surrounding the Tower. arena was privileged to be granted access to the dry moat, by the Yeoman Clerk and London Mason, W. Bro Philip Wilson, LGR, MetGD and W. Bro Simon White, SLGR, MetDepGDC,reports back on that visit and the story behind a different kind of installation….
"T
he original idea for the Blood Swept Lands installation was that of artist Paul Cummins,
who in conjunction with stage designer Tom Piper put the suggestion forward to the Tower. Once accepted, using the services of more than 21,000 volunteers the planting began on 17th July 2014 and continued until the last one was placed on 11th November 2014 in a moving ceremony witnessed by many thousands. Each poppy was created in four separate parts and then transported to the Tower for planting. The total number of 888,246 individual poppies represents the number of British and Colonial forces who made the ultimate sacrifice during the First World War. The Poppies are all sold with the proceeds being divided amongst six service charities, and quite a few masonic Lodges and Chapters have added their names to the list of poppy owners. Each evening at dusk a Yeoman Warder took his
place on a stand in the dry moat amongst the Ceramic poppies and read names of servicemen who fell during the Great War, in a roll of honour culminating in the playing of the Last Post. Now having been taken down, the huge number of flowers surrounding the Tower made a massive impact, by day and night. It is estimated that 5 million people will have visited the Tower to see the Poppies.
WINTER 2014 9
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