Pupils from Monkton Park Primary School in Chippenham have helped mark Armistice Day in a special way — by crocheting 60 handmade poppies for a wreath that travelled to London with Her Majesty Queen Camilla.
The project formed part of Great Western Railway’s annual Poppies to Paddington initiative, which sees wreaths from communities across the region carried to Paddington Station for a remembrance service.
The crocheted poppies were made by Year 5 and 6 pupils at Monkton Park, with support from teachers, parents and grandparents. Their wreath was organised by the TransWilts Community Rail Partnership, which represents local rail routes including Swindon to Westbury.
Seven pupils attended Chippenham railway station to meet The Queen and hand the wreath to the Poppies to Paddington train manager before it departed for London. Once at Paddington, the wreath was laid at the foot of the station’s ‘Tommy’ war memorial statue as part of the national tribute.
Sophie Martin, Community Partnership Manager at TransWilts, said: “The railways played an incredibly important role during the World Wars and continue to do so today. We were so pleased that pupils from Monkton Park School joined us this year, and that their creativity became part of how the nation is marking the day.”
Alongside their contribution to the wreath, pupils crocheted extra poppies to sell in aid of the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal.
Teacher Penny Hamilton said the project gave children a deeper understanding of remembrance: “Crocheting the poppies gave them time to reflect on why we mark this day, and they were so proud to see their work become part of a national tribute.”
Year 5 pupils Eira and Jacob were among those who met The Queen at the station. “It was amazing to see our poppies go on the train and know they would be at Paddington Station,” said Eira. “Meeting the Queen was really exciting too – I’ll never forget that!”
Jacob added: “I liked making the poppies because it felt like we were doing something important. When we gave the wreath to the train guard, I thought about all the people who fought in the wars and how we were remembering them.”
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