HER son has touched the nation with the breathtaking poppy display at the Tower of London.

And now Lady Anne Piper is hoping she can inspire others to remember the fallen of the First World War and raise money to repair All Saints Church, in Wytham.

Oxford Mail:

Lady Piper and Kathleen Day with a personalised slate

Tom, a stage designer, helped artist Paul Cummins create the display of nearly 900,000 ceramic poppies in the moat of the Tower.

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His 94-year-old mother, an author and campaigner against nuclear weapons, has become involved with a campaign that encourages people to buy roof slates and personalise them before they are used to repair the church roof.

She chose to decorate hers with memorials to soldiers from the village – where she lives – who died in the First World War, including her uncle, Arthur Griffith.

He was killed in action in November 1918 while serving with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers.

Lady Piper said: “All Saints is a very beautiful church. We have been able to use it in all sorts of ways and we have also done plays here with children involved.

“We have also had lovely art exhibitions.

“I am very proud of Tom’s exhibition, so it is great to be able to do something inspired by what he has done to help the church here in Wytham.”

The church was one of nine added to English Heritage’s at -risk register last month because of the bad state of its roof.

About £100,000 is needed for repairs and large tiles are being sold for £30, with small tiles costing £10.

Churchwarden Kathleen Day said: “Lady Piper is very involved in village things.

“It is not just about the money, it is nice to have and we need it but we feel that people really wanted to be involved in preserving the church.

“Lady Piper’s involvement has introduced a First World War commemorative element as well. I believe Lady Piper can inspire others to get involved.”

The church has also applied for Heritage Lottery funding, but even if this was granted a further £15,000 would be needed for roof repairs.

Commemorative messages written on the slates will remain on them after they are put in the roof, with the idea they will be there for years.

Lady Piper said: “Tom’s exhibition in London is a very beautiful thing.

“Every flower represents one person with a name and a number and it is a fitting location because people in ‘pals’ regiments went to the Tower to join up.

“Tom went to the poppy fields in France and was inspired by them.”

To buy a slate email k.day10@btinternet.com


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