Over 100 Step Up to Volunteer for Iconic Ceramic Poppies

February 8, 2017 by Southend Borough Council

Over 100 people have come forward to help greet the thousands of visitors expected to attend Shoebury’s Barge Pier when the celebrated sculpture Poppies: Wave by artist Paul Cummins and designer Tom Piper arrives in Southend as part of 14-18 NOW’s UK-wide tour.

So far 116 people have contacted the council to express interest in becoming “Wave Makers”, who will welcome the thousands of visitors expected to visit Wave when the sculpture comes to the Borough from 12th April to 25th June.

Around 150 volunteers are needed to cover a total of 210 four-hour shifts, with volunteers being asked to cover as many or few shifts as they wish.

An induction will be given to all volunteers with the aim of having a minimum of three volunteers covering each shift. Volunteers can sign up for as little or as many shifts as they would like.

“Wave Makers” will be on hand to help visitors by answering questions, giving directions or just being a friendly face for a chat.

Cllr Ann Holland, Executive Councillor for Culture, Tourism & The Economy, said: “I’ve been absolutely delighted with the response so far to our appeal for volunteers. There’s a huge buzz among local people who want to be able to say, “I was there”.”

“The London Olympics showed us all how valuable a contribution volunteers can make to an event’s success. Poppies: Wave coming to Southend will be a massive visitor boost to the town as it celebrates its 125 year anniversary. We’ve had a very promising start to our recruitment campaign and I’d urge local people not to miss this exciting opportunity to be involved.”

The presentations by 14-18 NOW - the UK’s arts programme for the First World War centenary - will give people across the UK the chance to experience the impact of the ceramic poppy sculptures in a range of places of particular First World War resonance. Wave is from the installation Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red – poppies and original concept by artist Paul Cummins and installation designed by Tom Piper – by Paul Cummins Ceramics Limited in conjunction with Historic Royal Palaces. The installation was originally at HM Tower of London from August to November 2014 where 888,246 poppies were displayed, one to honour every death in the British and Colonial forces of the First World War.

Southend-on-Sea was the scene of one of the first air-raids attacks on the UK, and the Garrison at Shoeburyness was home to the first British ‘School of Gunnery and a test site for artillery gun shells used during WW1. In common with the rest of the country, many people from Southend-on-Sea also fought or acted as nursing staff, with many making the ultimate sacrifice.

The installation will be open seven days a week and the proposed shifts are:

· 08:45 – 12:45

· 12:15 – 16:15

· 16:00 – 19:00

If you would like to be part of this amazing, beautiful and thought provoking event please visit www.southend.gov.uk/poppies and fill in the online form, or call 01702 212251.