Hundreds of ceramic poppies commemorating the First World War will go on permanent display in Manchester next month.
Taken from the commemorative Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red installation, created to mark the centenary of the First World War, the poppies were originally displayed at the Tower of London in 2014.
The initial installation saw the tower encircled, its moat strewn with ceramic poppies – each flower hand-placed by thousands of volunteers in memory of the millions of soldiers’ lives lost in the conflict.
Of 888,246 individual poppies, the last was placed on Remembrance Sunday by 13-year-old cadet Harry Hayes.
The poppies were originally displayed at the Tower of London in 2014 / Credit: Daniel Gillaspia via Flickr
Following the Tower of London exhibition, the First World War art installation then went on a tour of a number of UK cities – visiting 19 different locations, including the Imperial War Museum between September and November 2018.
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Now, it is set to return to Manchester full time – with two of the three original Tower of London sculptures about to begin a longstanding residence at the museum as they become part of its permanent collection.
Previously in 2018, only the cascading installation of ceramic poppies known as ‘Wave’ was displayed – but now ‘Weeping Window’ will join it, with both sculptures going on show inside the museum’s Manchester Air Shard building together for the first time.
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The First World War art installation then went on a tour of a number of UK cities / Credit: David Dixon via Geograph
‘Wave’ is a free-standing sculpture covered in poppies that curves and cascades down, giving them the appearance of pouring out onto the floor. ‘Weeping Window’ also adds movement by way of a towering poppy arch.
Artist Paul Cummins, who created the poppy sculptures alongside designer Tom Piper, was inspired by a poem written by an unknown Derbyshire soldier he had found amongst county records alongside the man’s unsigned will.
It began: “The blood swept lands and seas of red. Where angels dare to tread.”
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After hand-making each poppy in his studio and in a ceramic factory in Stoke on Trent, Mr Cummins then required the help of over 21,000 volunteers to install the original sculptures.
Both sculptures will go on display at the Imperial War Museum from 10 November, appearing in time for Remembrance Sunday 2021.
Chester Zoo is hiring a new keeper to look after its ‘birds and bees’
Emily Sergeant
Chester Zoo is currently hiring someone to look after its ‘birds and bees’, and you can get your applications in the for role now.
If you’re after a career change in 2026, then surely it doesn’t get much better than this?
The UK’s biggest charity zoo currently has a vacancy open for a Keeper to join the Invertebrates team, and for the right candidate, this offers a fantastic opportunity to work as part of the wider Ectotherms department – with a focus on native species conservation.
Chester Zoo is responsible for one of Europe’s largest and most-diverse animal communities, and this is your chance to be a part of what makes it so special.
For this full-time role, the zoo is looking for an ‘enthusiastic, dynamic, and motivated’ individual to provide extensive knowledge and proven expertise in caring for and managing all the native invertebrate species that live there.
The ideal candidate for this job will have a HND or degree level qualification in a zoological related science or equivalent experience, and have ‘outstanding’ observational skills and attention to detail, as well as be committed to ensuring the highest possible standards of animal health and welfare are met.
The role of ‘Keeper – Invertebrates’ is 40 hours per week on a 12-month Fixed Term basis, with the working week being 10 days out of 14, including weekends and bank holidays as rostered, and the salary being £25,500 per annum.
Working at Chester Zoo comes with an ‘excellent benefits package’ and loads of perks too, including a generous pension scheme, 33 days paid holidays per year, a healthcare plan, pension scheme, a staff pass so you can visit the zoo for free, and complimentary tickets for friends and family.
Think you’re fit for the job? The closing date for applications is 22 November 2026, and you can find out more and apply for the role here.
Featured Image – Chester Zoo
News
Appeal for information after serious bus-cyclist collision on Deansgate
Daisy Jackson
Police have launched an appeal for information following a serious road traffic collision on Deansgate, which has left a cyclist in critical condition.
Yesterday afternoon reports were made of a crash between a cyclist and a bus on the busy street in Manchester city centre.
The cyclist, who is a man in his 80s, has suffered life-threatening injuries in the crash, and remains in hospital in critical condition.
The crash took place on the junction of Bridge Street and Deansgate at around 12.30pm on Monday 2 November.
A large cordon was in place and Deansgate closed for several hours yesterday.
Police officers are now appealing for any witnesses who may have seen the moments leading up to this incident, or may have mobile phone or dashcam footage, to come forward.
No arrests have been made.
Anyone with information can contact police on 0161 856 4741 quoting the log number 1510 of 02.11.26. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Georgina Pellant -
26th October 2021 
