Sea of ceramic poppies created at West Buckland School for remembrance

A poignant display of ceramic poppies has been placed around the war memorial at West Buckland School to honour 108 former pupils and all those who gave their lives for their country in conflict.

Ceramics for Remembrance saw students and staff at the school as well as visiting pupils from Kingsacre Primary School in Braunton create the individual poppies during a series of ceramic workshops.

Above and below: The display of ceramic poppies created at West Buckland School for remembrance. Credit: WBS Marketing

The installation was inspired by Paul Cummins’ iconic Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red - the breath-taking display of ceramic poppies at the Tower of London in 2014, commemorating those lost during the centenary of the First World War.

A total of 220 poppies have been placed around the West Buckland memorial, including 108 for the school’s own fallen, former students who died while serving in the armed forces, the majority in the first and second world wars.

On Armistice Day (Tuesday, November 11), West Buckland staff and students gathered for a Service of Remembrance with five additional poppies placed by two students with family connections to the armed forces as well as three staff members.

Above: Students and staff at West Buckland School gather for a whole school assembly and remembrance. Credit: WBS Marketing

Wreaths were also laid by headteacher Helen Lowe, school chaplain Reverend Tandy Ruoff and Old West Buckland Association president Jan Witheridge.

Above: West Buckland School Year 12 student Peter plays the Last Post during the school’s Service of Remembrance on Armistice Day. Credit: WBS Marketing 

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Art teacher Amelia Morrison said: “West Buckland School was proud to lead the ceramic poppies collaboration, inviting Kingsacre Primary pupils to join us in learning and creating together.

“Outreach is a vital part of our ethos, as it opens the door to shared experiences and sparks collaborative creativity across schools.”

Above and below: Pupils from Kingsacre Primary School created ceramic poppies during workshops at West Buckland School. Credit: WBS Marketing

West Buckland will be welcoming pupils from Kingsacre and Southmead schools in Braunton for a summer workshop to continue the poppy initiative.

The exhibition will then be displayed at both Kingsacre and Southmead schools over the next two years.