Plan B Forum

Don't miss the major art installation Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red at the Tower of London, marking one hundred years since the first full day of Britain's involvement in the First World War.

Created by ceramic artist Paul Cummins, with setting by stage designer Tom Piper, 888,246 ceramic poppies will progressively fill the Tower's famous moat over the summer. Each poppy represents a British military fatality during the war.

The poppies will encircle the iconic landmark, creating not only a spectacular display visible from all around the Tower but also a location for personal reflection. The scale of the installation intends to reflect the magnitude of such an important centenary creating a powerful visual commemoration.

We are hoping to sell all of the poppies that make up the installation and, in doing so, raise millions of pounds which will be shared equally amongst six service charities

https://poppies.hrp.org.uk/buy-a-poppy/

The Tower of London poppies are fake, trite and inward-looking – a Ukip-style memorial


Four million people will flock to see the 888,246 ceramic poppies deposited in the Tower’s moat to mark Remembrance Day. It’s disturbing that, 100 years on, we can only mark this terrible war as a nationalistic tragedy

http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign ... brance-day

If I am ever so lucky enough to meet J Jones, I will punch him hard in the face.

Gob wrote:
Great to hear every single poppy has now been sold.

The blood swept lands and seas of red,
Where angels dare to tread.
As I put my hand to reach,
As God cried a tear of pain as the angels fell,
Again and again.

As the tears of mine fell to the ground
To sleep with the flowers of red
As any be dead

My children see and work through fields of my
Own with corn and wheat,
Blessed by love so far from pain of my resting
Fields so far from my love.

It be time to put my hand up and end this pain
Of living hell, to see the people around me
Fall someone angel as the mist falls around
And the rain so thick with black thunder I hear
Over the clouds, to sleep forever and kiss
The flower of my people gone before time
To sleep and cry no more

I put my hand up and see the land of red,
This is my time to go over,
I may not come back
So sleep, kiss the boys for me

Gob wrote:Why would they give a price, when they were already sold out? I had already stated they had all be sold, 3 days before you, apparently, tried to buy one. Try reading more closely.

The price, for those who tried to buy one, before they were all sold out that is, was £25 each.

Did i notice "the detail you pointed out"? Did you notice that I posted the OP, you cretinous little oaf.

Huge crowds have been to see the Tower of London poppy garden despite warnings to stay away until after half-term and to avoid a Tube station closure.

People were also warned to expect delays because of the closure of Tower Hill station for engineering works.

The Tower of London said Saturday was one of the busiest days to date but staff were coping with the crowds.

Tower Hill station had to be shut a number of times on Friday because of the number of people visiting the poppy garden.

The first of the 888,246 ceramic poppies was planted in the Tower's dry moat in July, with the final one due to be installed on Armistice Day.

Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member Caroline Pidgeon said the decision to close Tower Hill tube on Saturday and Sunday was "an appalling decision".

"The stunning Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red display has caught the imagination of literally hundreds of thousands of people who desperately want to see this display before it comes to an end," she said.

"In other areas Transport for London do a great deal in recognising Remembrance Sunday and supporting the poppy appeal, but in this instance their actions are simply wrong."

At the scene

Nick Beake, BBC London news reporter

It's extremely busy, a bit like after a football match. There are crowds of people, five and six deep, all around the perimeter of the Tower of London viewing the poppies.

The City of London is a lot busier than normal with spectators steadily making their way from Bank and Aldgate because of the closure of Tower Hill.

I spoke to a group of pensioners who had travelled from Kent. They had heard the message to stay away but told me the coach trip had been booked a long time ago.

Although it's very busy there is a low friendly murmur here rather than the usual crowd noise, as people reflect on the meaning of the installation as well as taking photos and selfies.

Phil Hufton, London Underground's chief operating officer, said Tower Hill station had been closed for "vital engineering work".

He said travellers had been warned about the disruption and advised to use Aldgate, Aldgate East and Tower Gateway stations.

The Tower of London has urged people to delay their trip to the installation until after the half-term and to visit before 10.00 GMT or later in the day to avoid the busiest times.

The artist behind the Tower of London poppy exhibition received death threats, he has revealed.

Paul Cummins received threats by email, phone and letter over plans for services charities to benefit from the £10m raised, he told the Sunday Times.

The Derbyshire artist said he believed it was because some people felt the charities were "involved in war".

Blood Swept Lands And Seas Of Red saw 888,246 ceramic poppies "planted" in the moat.

Mr Cummins said: "The threats came, I suppose, because they felt that the money was going to charities which in some way were involved in war."

He added that police had been called in over the matter.

Paul Cummins received threats by email, phone and letter over plans for services charities to benefit from the £10m raised, he told the Sunday Times.

The Derbyshire artist said he believed it was because some people felt the charities were "involved in war".