London poppies highlight devastation of war

by Bruce McMichael

Visiting London in early November it would have been hard to resist visiting the Tower of London and the WWI memorial, Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red, created by artist Paul Cummins. The 888,246 ceramic poppies perched on steel stalks represent lives lost in WWl will have been seen by at least 4m people by the time the installation closes on November 11, 2014.
Cummins said:  ‘I was inspired to create this installation after reading a living will by an unknown soldier who we think may have been from Derby. I approached the Tower as the ideal setting as its strong military links seemed to resonate.
‘The installation is transient, I found this poignant and reflective of human life, like those who lost their lives during First World War. I wanted to find a fitting way to remember them’.

For my family, we remember Uncle Jack who ‘died of wounds’ in the fields of France and Flanders on 31 August, 1918. You are remembered.

 

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The Gherkin, Cheesegrater and Walkie Talkie form the cityscape backdrop to the Tower of London
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You are here!
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Each poppy represents a loss of life in WWl
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Filling the moat with ceramic and steel poppies, a poignant symbol of a loss of life
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Looking west across the poppy filled moat
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So many poppies, so many lost and broken lives
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The poppy art installation flows around the Tower of London
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Don’t forget to buy your poppy
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The ‘flow’ of poppies into the moat
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Lest we forget
Bruce McMichael

Food writing, discovering food stories, meeting producers, chefs and food enthusiasts are all part of desire to inspire, inform my readers and fellow food lovers. I am a freelance writer, journalist and published author focusing on the international world of food and drink, culture and travel. In 2019 I graduated from the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Pollenzo, Italy with a Masters in Food Culture, Communication and Marketing. I am now a visiting Professor at the university teaching Food & Drink Writing. Based in London I travel widely, particularly across western Europe. I have chaired many conferences and meetings, spoken at conferences and events and often appear on radio and TV talking most about food, the business of food and being an entrepreneur. In 2017 I won an episode of the ITV (the UK-based national television channel) cooking competition show, 'Gordon Ramsay's Culinary Genius'. I took my children on holiday to Sicily with the prize money. As an experienced farmers' market manager and operator of a small marmalade/ preserves company, I am very familiar with the issues surrounding local food, farming, enterprise and the environment.