Thieves have stolen wreaths and panels of purple crocheted and knitted poppies displayed at Ramsgate’s Destiny memorial in Albion Gardens to commemorate the animals who lost their lives in the world wars.
The display was put in place by Ramsgate’s Crafty Poppies group to mark the official memorial day for those animals tomorrow (August 23).
The panels had been cable-tied in place along the railings at the steps to the Destiny statue while the wreaths were laid at the statue base and at each side.
But at some point between Tuesday and this morning (Friday, August 22) someone had cut the ties and made off with all the panels and most of the wreaths.
The panels and wreaths were made by knitting, crochet or looming by members of the Crafty Poppies Group, who have spent months creating them as well as paying out for the wool.
Upset group member Jo Hanchett said: “We found out today after the gardener who looks after Albion Gardens sent us a photo. There were panels all the way along the steps and wreaths at Destiny and it had all looked lovely.
“Now all the panels are gone and only five wreaths remain loose at Destiny.
“It has to have been an adult because they have cut them and taken the ties, there is nothing there left behind. They are tied right up against the railing so you really have to cut into them, meaning whoever did it must have taken their time
“All the time spent on them, one of our members took months making new wreaths. I feel sick and angry that someone could do something so stupid. We have lost the odd poppy or wreath over the waterfall and have lost half a dozen poppies maybe in all the years we have been doing them but never anything like this before.
“Whoever took them, just please bring them back.”
It is too late to replace the display for tomorrow’s memorial day and the group is now worried about protecting the red poppies display which will go in place this Autumn in time for Remembrance Day.
The theft has been reported to Kent Police.
Kent Police has been contacted for further details.
The Crafty Poppies group has been creating displays since 2017.
Find out more on the Crafty Poppies facebook page here
It could have been the useless Ramsgate town council who removed them , it’s the sort of thing they would do
It most certainly wasn’t.
RTC works hard to promote all th8ngs Ramsgate.
This is why we need to fund our military. People forget, so war is inevitable sooner or later.
Probably the junkies that use the park
Seen the police in there countless times.
Coincidence? Same happened at Pegwell and Westgate recently. ? targeted by same unwanted, unwelcome rubbish as before – the mothers being so proud ( and the father if known).Appears a recurrent theme .The Crafty Poppies were superb , immortalising the sacrifice of animals along with humans in conflict . The perpetrator/s are not fit to walk among us – but probably do laughing as they go – may karma and hopefully the police catch up with them .
Despicable , thicko behaviour
Targeted. Someone doesn’t want them to be seen. Its happened in other places too.
Birch (verb)
what an awful place to live ramsgate has become , its inhabited by some vile people .it will only get worse i fear.
Just why? What use are these poppies to anyone? Other than the purpose for which they were created. And so soon after Destiny was recently vandalised. A calculated and deliberate attack on something that is important to the community.
I hate to say this but is it possible Thanet council removed them , because maybe put up without their permission, it’s the sort of thing I can see them doing and nobody would have challenged them , seeing a tdc team or vehicles, just a thought!
Perhaps some people don’t think that knitted and crochet objects blend well with the surroundings.
Are you completely insensitive to people’s hard work? Please don’t come to Birchington. We don’t want your sort.
Maybe they were a local do-gooder and had confused those things for rubbish? Perhaps they were trying to clean up the park and we owe the a debt of gratitude for being a good hardworking citizen? This is just the sort of thing a champion of the community would do! I sleep easier in this town and so should all the other top class individuals in Ramsgate(aka Gothem City!) Thanet has its own Super Hero now! Thanks to your crochet work they are now decked out to the nines in a purple wool poppy suit! This is just incredible. A proud day for our fair town.