Arundel Schools at centre of Arundel’s WWI Remembrance Project.
Arundel marked the start of World War I yesterday with a sculpture at one of the main entrances to the Town on the A27 roundabout.
Two Circles Design installed a larger than life size figure of a serviceman and horse, surrounded by a sea of poppies and purple wreaths (for animals), on the Causeway roundabout to commemorate the Centenary of the outbreak of World War 1.
The project, inspired by Micheal Morpurgos’ Warhorse and John Singer Sargent’s painting Gassed, is supported by Arundel Town Council and encouraged school children from the area to research their local war memorial, someone from their own family or choose an area of particular interest to them, for example the role animals played in the war.
Mark and Rebecca Ford, from Two Circles Design, wanted the project to breathe life into the events of the period by connecting it to the students on a personal level.
They said: “It has been an opportunity for the students to talk to parents, grand parents and even great grand parents about family recollections of the war years”.
Stories emerged of conscientious objectors, non-combatants, women who worked in industry, forestry and farming, the home guard, the returning injured as well as the many who sadly lost their lives.
Local school children were involved in making hand shaped poppies to surround the figures and also in researching family histories related to WWI.
The poppies represent the individual child and research they undertook; many include extraordinarily moving short written messages.
The results of some of the research are displayed in Arundel Museum for the duration of the Arundel Festival (August 16-25). Children’s work will be archived and available to view through the Gallery Trail website.
Staff and pupils from the following schools made the project possible by their participation:
• St Philips Catholic Primary
• Arundel Church of England School
• Slindon Church of England School
• The Regis School, Bognor Regis
• Fordwater School, Chichester
• The Apuldram Centre
We hope that the sculpture will remain until April/May 2015 and the poppies/wreaths (see below) until after Remembrance Sunday 9 November 2014.
Purple Poppy Wreaths:
Also on the roundabout visitors will be able to see Purple Poppy Wreaths:
Purple Poppy Wreaths (introduced in 2006) are to remember and raise awareness of animals that were ‘victims of war’. To date, they have been included in commemorations in UK, France, Belgium, Canada, USA and many other countries.
Millions of animals, including horses, mules, dogs and pigeons lives, were ‘taken’ during WW1 (40 horses were from Arundel).
The British Army had 1 million horses, some of which helped to build hospitals ‘behind the lines’. One quarter million of horses perished on the Western Front alone!
Throughout history animals have been innocently ‘caught’ up in human conflict, their ‘role’ played a vital part and their loyalty and bravery will never be forgotten.
The idea of displaying ‘Purple Poppy Wreaths’ was put forward, organized and fund raised, by Susan Phelps. Susan would like to thank the following for contributing: Arundel Equine Hospital; Centre of Horsemanship (Arundel); Fitzalan Vets (Arundel, Litllehampton, East Preston & Angmering); The wag Club (Arundel); Shoreline Pet Supplies (Goring); Clapham and Patching School; and friends an family.
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