Member Article

Housebuilder joins project to commemorate local servicemen who lost their lives in World War One

David Wilson Homes is backing an important local project commemorating the role of Somerset servicemen who lost their lives during World War One.

The housebuilder is creating a new community at its Bishops Green development in Wells, and is keen to be involved with local groups and projects.

The Somerset Poppies, organised by Coxley School teacher Dan Vidler, involves all schoolchildren between the ages of four and 16 in the city and some surrounding villages. Each of them will make a poppy and place it with 7,999 others on the croquet lawn at the Bishop’s Palace. The last poppy will be ‘laid’ at 11am on 11 November 2018.

“The number of poppies - 8,000 - represents all the brave soldiers, sailors and airman from Somerset who were killed in action during the Great War,” said David Wilson Homes’ Louise Ware. “One hundred years after the end of that devastating war, we are keen to help local children understand and appreciate the tremendous sacrifices made, not only by those who fought in battle - but also by those who remained at home.

“We feel honoured to be sponsoring the project and wish everyone involved a great deal of success as they prepare their poppies over the coming months.”

Cllr Celia Wride, Mayor of Wells, added: “As Mayor of Wells but also as a resident of Somerset I am immensely proud that so many people - young and old - are actively working to make this Centenary Year, which will culminate on Remembrance Day, endure.

“No moment in our history is more deserving of community togetherness and deference.”

David Wilson Homes is also honouring local WW1 heroes at one of its developments in Somerset. Its new Patch Meadows development in Somerton is named after Harry Patch, who was the last surviving combat soldier from the First World War before his death in 2009 aged 111.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by David Wilson Homes .