Gone but not forgotten…..

Orkney has said goodbye to the Weeping Window poppy display.

According to the OIC 40,735 people have visited the ceramic poppies whilst they have been on show at St Magnus Cathedral over the past seven weeks – including 14,500 people in the final week.

The display will now move to the Black Watch Museum in Perth.

Council Convener Steven Heddle said: “Since April, the main door of the cathedral has been flanked by a cascade of ceramic poppies that appeared to flow from a window high up on the western end of the building.

“The setting, with the poppies that form Weeping Window displayed against the red sandstone of the Cathedral, could not have been better.
“Each individual poppy honoured a death among the British and Colonial forces of the First World War. Together they formed a stunning and poignant tribute to the service and sacrifice of those who served at Jutland and the wider war at sea.

“It was a great honour for us that this was the cascade’s first visit to Scotland as part of a UK-wide tour organised by 14-18 NOW, the official arts programme for the First World War centenary.

“The poppies will remain long in the memory of the many people – local residents and visitors to our islands – who have stood and marvelled at the cathedral cascade.”

Poppies: Weeping Window is from the installation Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red – poppies and original concept by artist Paul Cummins and installation designed by Tom Piper – by Paul Cummins Ceramics Limited in conjunction with Historic Royal Palaces.
The installation is part of Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red, which was at the Tower of London in 2014 where 888,246 poppies were displayed, one to honour every death in the British and Colonial forces of the First World War.