Two Gloucester clubs have teamed up to create a beautiful wreath as part of a national project, and it’s now on show in London at the National Army Museum.
Members of Gloucester Charities Trust’s Kimbrose Club, for people with dementia, and Black Elders Day Centre, for older people, jointly produced the wreath as part of the Unremembered project.
The Unremembered is a government-funded community engagement project, to raise awareness of the contribution of the Labour Corps as part of the World War One centenary. The Labour Corps supplied the Army with weapons and ammunition, food and fodder, water and fuel. They built and maintained roads and railways and they were essential to the war effort.
The wreath made by Kimbrose and Black Elders members uses the colours of the West Indies’ flag, commemorating the British West Indies Regiment. It was made using knitting, crochet, felt, embroidery and beads.
“Creating this wreath has been great therapy for our club members,” said Kerry-Ann Lees, manager at Kimbrose Club. “It has given our members a chance to reminisce about stories of wartime Britain as well as learning more about the contribution Commonwealth countries made.
“The club members knitted and crocheted, and taught some of our staff a new skill along the way. For those who were no longer able to do this, due to both poor memory or difficulties with fine motor skills, we used felt and threaded beads.
“It was lovely to be able to adapt the activity so that all could contribute to something so meaningful, and thus fulfilling a sense of purpose for our club members.”
A spokeswoman for Big Ideas, which is leading the Unremembered project, said: “It was fantastic that these groups were able to collaborate in the creation of a beautiful wreath. The use of the colours from the West Indies flags to commemorate the British West Indies Regiment was both creative and impactful and it is clear that a lot of skill went in to creating it.”
The Kimbrose Club for people with dementia is a weekday club based in London Road and is part of Gloucester Charities Trust. For more information email Kerry-Ann.
