Mystery poppy turns up at RSA

TALL POPPY: Wanganui RSA executive member Alan Morris with the ceramic poppy that has come all the way from Britain. PHOTO/STUART MUNRO 250315WCSMPOPPY2

Wanganui RSA is no stranger to poppies, but it's currently playing host to a particularly special poppy.

The ceramic poppy was one of 888,246 - one for each British or colonial World War I casualty - handmade by British artist Paul Cummins. The poppies were produced as an installation, Blood Swept Lands and Seas Of Red, which carpeted the ground around the Tower of London last year to mark the centenary of the start of World War I.

The poppies were all individually made and no two were identical.

The poppies were later sold off, and one of them has made its way to the Wanganui RSA.

However, exactly who the donor is remains something of a mystery. Manager Kyle Dalton said a woman called Allie Ward had dropped the poppy off several weeks ago.

She had told staff they could keep it until after Anzac Day.

However, neither the phone number nor the email she gave the RSA were valid.

"She told us that her daughter was one of the volunteers who helped to place them around the Tower.

"But that's about all we know," Mr Dalton said.

The poppy has taken pride of place in a vase behind the RSA's bar.

Mr Dalton said RSA staff had received lots of positive comments from club members about the poppy.

"I think everyone is pleased we've been involved in this project, especially as we're ramping up towards Poppy Day on April 17 and 18," he said.