An 85 year old has painstakingly knitted a beautiful wreath of poppies to commemorate servicemen who gave their lives during the First World War.
Joy Lintill, of London Colney, was keen to pay tribute to the 14 brave soldiers named on the village’s war memorial, particularly as this year marks the 100th anniversary of Britain entering the conflict.
She said: “I have knitted a poppy for each serviceman named on the memorial.
“I thought I would do something special as it is 100 years since the start of the First World War, which took a lot of people from this village.
“I started knitting the wreath in June this year. It’s my personal tribute.”
The kind-hearted and patriotic octogenarian has done voluntary work for the annual Poppy Appeal since 1968 in London Colney and last week saw her again donning a Pearly Queen outfit she made in 1983 to collect donations for the Royal British Legion outside Sainsbury’s.
She said: “The legion holds a large part of my heart.”
Joy’s 14 knitted poppies have been carefully assembled into a wreath by Gill Holpen, ready to be laid at the village’s memorial service on Remembrance Sunday.
People have been asked to assemble at the village’s community centre on Caledon Road at 10.15am on Sunday to walk in procession to the war memorial for a Service of Remembrance.
It is one of several services being held throughout the district on Sunday including St Helen’s Church, Wheathampstead, at 10.30am and in Sandridge, where an act of Remembrance is being held at the Lychgate at St Leonard’s Church at 10.45am.
The names of those from Sandridge who died during the First or Second World Wars will be read out.
Wreaths will also be laid by local organisations and followed by a service in the church, suitable for all ages.
While Joy has made a personal tribute to those who lost their lives in the conflict, the district council too has been busy preparing St Albans war memorial ahead of this weekend’s commemoration.
The council has recently restored war plaques and memorials in its care, in honour of those who lost their lives in the First World War.
Over summer, the names of 600 local men who died in that conflict were re-engraved and re-painted onto the St Peter’s Street war memorial.
And next spring, the council plans to lay a commemorative stone in memory of Private Edward Warner at the memorial.
Private Warner was born in the city and was posthumously awarded the Victorian Cross for acts of bravery on May 1, 1915.
The stone is being funded by the Department for Communities and Local Goverment as part of a government initiative.
Paving stones are being laid throughout the country in honour of recipients of the Victoria Cross on the 100th anniversary of the action for which the cross was awarded.
First World War memorial plaques in Holywell Hill and Ridgmont Road have also been renovated.
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