Tower of London Poppies.

[D1002]

Not a railway video but thought it was worth posting in memory of the 20,000 + railwaymen and women who lost their lives in World War 1 :

http://youtu.be/sAB001rSjnY

[youtube]sAB001rSjnY[/youtube]

 

[306024]

The poppies are a fine sight. Well worth taking some time out for reflection if you are in London. All 888,246 of them have now been sold.

 

[starrymarkb]

Given the crowds when I went on Sunday reflection might be a bit difficult. They were an impressive site though

 

[Johnuk123]

Paul Cummins Ceramics Blood Swept Lands And Seas Of Red Community Interest Company is the name of the firm which is getting £10m from these poppies once the 25% is taken off for charity and the VAT.

They are made for less than 2 quid.

 

[Emyr]

Getting a CIC up and running does involve a lot of hoop-jumping...

 

[D1002]

From yesterday's Guardian!

"The Tower of London poppies are fake, trite and inward-looking."

http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/jonathanjonesblog/2014/oct/28/tower-of-london-poppies-ukip-remembrance-day[/QUOTE]

 

[MidnightFlyer]

From yesterday's Guardian!

"The Tower of London poppies are fake, trite and inward-looking."

http://www.theguardian.com/artandde.../tower-of-london-poppies-ukip-remembrance-day

Link doesn't work - URL is incorrect.

 

[table38]

Link doesn't work - URL is incorrect.

Maybe they moved it as it was getting a bit of negative publicity! Try http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/jonathanjonesblog/2014/oct/28/tower-of-london-poppies-ukip-remembrance-day

 

[Nym]

How much did them poppies cost each and how much the Operators of the Tower of London are getting out of the deal I wonder? (Indirectly of course)

 

[CallySleeper]

Maybe they moved it as it was getting a bit of negative publicity! Try http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/jonathanjonesblog/2014/oct/28/tower-of-london-poppies-ukip-remembrance-day

Click bait. Don't bother unless you want to read a poor, strongly blinkered rant by somebody who doesn't understand fully yet also feels compelled to unnecessarily haul modern-day politics into the picture.

 

[Starmill]

The moat of the Tower should be filled with barbed wire and bones. That would mean something.

He's certainly not wrong on this point. The idea of filling the moat with poppies is nice - and I'd like to see it, but it doesn't sound like I'll be able to get near! The exact number of them as british soldiers who died thing makes me feel very uneasy though - it's almost implicit that we don't care about the Germans (or anyone else!) who died. And that is not the image I think we should be projecting.

 

[D1002]

Link doesn't work - URL is incorrect.

Sorted.

 

[Mojo]

And with today being London Poppy Day it's even busier!

 

[Clip]

Ive been going past them at least once a week since they started to be planted and its a great sight to see. They had some event last night around 1630 with a bugler and some banners but it was properly mobbed so couldnt see what it was about.

 

[Starmill]

London Poppy Day is another concept I find utterly bizzare, especially when it's onnational news. Did the Royal British Legion not feel that one day was enough?

 

[Amberley54]

Click bait. Don't bother unless you want to read a poor, strongly blinkered rant by somebody who doesn't understand fully yet also feels compelled to unnecessarily haul modern-day politics into the picture.

The price of living in a democracy with a free press - two things that were amongst the key differences between Germany and the western allies in both wars, and for which those that made the ultimate sacrifice helped to protect for future generations.

 

[meridian2]

The price of living in a democracy with a free press - two things that were amongst the key differences between Germany and the western allies in both wars, and for which those that made the ultimate sacrifice helped to protect for future generations.

We also fought for an honest democracy, and not one that should ever be abused or exploited, as is the case here.

 

[Johnuk123]

How much did them poppies cost each and how much the Operators of the Tower of London are getting out of the deal I wonder? (Indirectly of course)

See post 4.

 

[starrymarkb]

London Poppy Day is another concept I find utterly bizzare, especially when it's onnational news. Did the Royal British Legion not feel that one day was enough?

First I've heard of it! It does seem that Rememberance does seem to be getting tackier and more competitive of late.

 

[Bungle73]

Paul Cummins Ceramics Blood Swept Lands And Seas Of Red Community Interest Company is the name of the firm which is getting £10m from these poppies once the 25% is taken off for charity and the VAT.

They are made for less than 2 quid.

Not sure where you are getting your figures from? All the net proceeds will be going to the six charities, plus the guarenteed 10%

And can you really get someone to hand-make one of these ceramic poppies for just £2?

See post 4.

Post four doesn't mention anything about HRP (who are a charity themselves btw), who are getting nothing out of this, but their costs.

 

[Mojo]

First I've heard of it! It does seem that Rememberance does seem to be getting tackier and more competitive of late.

London Poppy Day is another concept I find utterly bizzare, especially when it's onnational news. Did the Royal British Legion not feel that one day was enough?

London Poppy Day is just a one day "blitz" of fundraising for the Royal British Legion in the capital; it is in no way intended to supplement/replace Remembrance day.

 

[DarloRich]

I visited the tower last Saturday and thought the installation was incredibly thought provoking - although very busy there was time for reflection and consideration of the level of sacrifice and loss. People just waited their turn, looked, took as long as they wanted to take it in and moved on.

Some pictures here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/darlo2009/sets/72157649139866505/

 

[Butts]

I visited on Monday Morning and coming out of Tower Hill Station was like exiting Wembley or some other venue with a humongous number of people.

However I'm glad I made the effort as it was quite spectacular.

 

[Wyvern]

Is there not a danger that the whole day becomes an excuse for political posturing, jingoism and what the Guardian calls "sepia tinted nostalgia"?

On BBC this morning Sheila Hancock suggested that as a final act on Remembrance Day we should drive a tank across them all, an act of wanton destruction that would symbolise what war is really all about.

 

[radamfi]

Is there not a danger that the whole day becomes an excuse for political posturing, jingoism and what the Guardian calls "sepia tinted nostalgia"?

On BBC this morning Sheila Hancock suggested that as a final act on Remembrance Day we should drive a tank across them all, an act of wanton destruction that would symbolise what war is really all about.

If life is only sustainable by killing other people, is that the kind of world you want to bring a child into?

 

[Wyvern]

Some suggest it is what sustains many countries' economies.

 

[radamfi]

Some suggest it is what sustains the capitalist economy.

Well, when defence jobs are at risk there seems to be a greater outcry than normal. I personally take comfort in knowing that I won't be responsible for creating offspring that may kill other people.