AN HISTORIC church in the heart of the Belgian battlefields will be decorated in crafted poppies this November, thanks to a Rake woman and a worldwide army of knitters.

Lady Emma Crofton has urged sewing enthusiasts around the world to ‘make a poppy’ for the Armistice Day centenary.

The poppies will be attached to netting or artificial turf and draped down the side of St George’s Memorial Church tower in Ypres in time for November 11.

The plans have the support of the Royal British Legion, church warden at St Georges Liz Millward and The Friends of St George’s Memorial Church, Ypres, while knitters from as far as Buenos Aires are taking part.

“My husband was in the army and my son is a keen military historian,” said Lady Crofton.

“We were talking and saying how we missed the wave of poppies at Fort Nelson and hadn’t gone to the Tower of London, so we thought it would be a wonderful thing to have something similar at St George’s.”

Inmates at Send women’s prison, near Woking, are also taking part while customers at Liss Wools and The Fabric House, in Lavant Street, Petersfield, have been urged to get knitting, sewing or crocheting for the cause.

Lady Crofton added: “I would ask you all to support this project in any way you can.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity to raise the profile of St George’s Memorial Church and a fitting way, as 2018 draws to a close, to honour the memory of all those who served in Belgium and France during the Great War.”

Poppies must be completed no later than October 11.

More information about the scheme can be found online: at www.stgeorgesme morialchurchypres.com

Alternatively, e-mail: em [email protected] or call 07770 808937.