White poppies at Oxford Meeting

‘We may not be holding our usual vigil for Remembrance Day but we are certainly making a statement and selling white poppies!’

Oxford Meeting marked Remembrance Day this month by displaying a giant white poppy on the Meeting house exterior wall, as well as a white poppy wreath on the door.

Deb Arrowsmith, Meeting house manager, told the Friend: ‘We may not be holding our usual vigil for Remembrance Day but we are certainly making a statement and selling white poppies!’

She added: ‘Oxford Quaker Meeting House will be displaying its giant poppy again over the Remembrance Day period (from 1-11 November) to remind all of the importance of working for peace. Hugh Palmer, a member of Oxford Quakers, made the giant poppy from recycled materials and hoists it into position each year to the astonishment and wonder of passers-by! Of course all parades are cancelled this year… but Oxford Meeting continues to sell Peace Pledge Union white poppies.’

Deb Arrowsmith added that normally over 1,000 poppies are sold each year, but this year they anticipate much less. ‘Our wreath of knitted white poppies on the front door was made by a group of Friends and peace supporters two years ago – so it’s another recycled statement of hope in a dark time and certainly makes people smile as they pass by.’

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