Melton residents make special Remembrance tributes to the fallen

Residents of Severn Hill, Melton, decorated this tree with homemade poppies to mark Remembrance Sunday - Kirsty Wells is shown holding baby Spencer with son Fletcher with neighbours Maddie and Finn in the other picture EMN-200911-152359001

People were asked to stay at home this year to pay their respects to fallen service personnel and several took the opportunity to do it in a unique and poignant way.

Families who lives in Severn Hill in the town made special poppies and hung them from a tree in the neighbourhood.

Kirsty Wells, who was one of those who got involved, said: “Lots of families did some lovely paintings, colouring and sticking in order to create this beautiful tree situated on the green in the middle of our street.

A commemorative Remembrance archway at the Melton home of Margaret Hill, who wrote a book based on her grandfather's service in the First World War EMN-200911-152348001

“We are a close community which has pulled together during this pandemic, supporting each other, keeping spirits high and trying to make a positive out of a challenging situation.”

Author Margaret Hill, who wrote a book based on the First World War exploits of her grandfather, decorated an archway of her Melton home with a colourful poppy display to mark Remembrance.

We reported last year on her book - Leonard’s War about Leonard Garfoot’s service on the ambulance trains on the Western Front in France - and which has been requested for display by the Imperial War Museum.

Another Melton resident who has created a special display is Nick Pridden, who has planted poppy crosses and silhouettes of soldiers in his garden.

Melton resident Nick Pridden's garden commemoration of Remembrance EMN-200911-152336001

A small number of dignataries and members of service organisations attended a short service in Memorial Gardens in Melton on Sunday, with the parade and traditional Remembrance service at St Mary’s Church having to be cancelled.