Lancaster bomber poppy tribute dismantled

10 September 2025

Sarah-May BuccieriBBC News , Lincoln

News image — Nicky van der Drift says the ceramic display has had a "huge impact"

BBC Nicky van der Drift is standing in front of a sea of ceramic red handcrafted poppies. Nicky is wearing red glasses, has blond hai and a blue blazer. The sky behind her is blue. — Nicky van der Drift says the ceramic display has had a "huge impact"

An installation of more than 20,000 handcrafted poppies, which commemorated VE and VJ day, is being dismantled with the poppies picked, packaged and posted to people who have bought them.

The display, in the shape of a Lancaster bomber aircraft, was based at the International Bomber Command Centre (IBCC) in Lincoln.

Volunteers have started to dismantle the tribute poppy by poppy. It is expected to take three weeks to complete.

Nicky van der Drift, chief executive of the IBCC, said the event had a "huge impact" and the centre "has never been as busy as it has over this summer".

A woman carefully hand picking each red poppy, one at a time. She is reaching out to grasp another. — Each poppy will be hand-picked from the ground

Money raised from the sale of the hand-painted poppies will go to the IBCC, the British West India Regiments Heritage Trust and the Wooden Spoon Trust.

Ms van der Drift described the installation as a "really important marker".

"It's not about individuals, but every poppy is about an individual so it's that collective service as well as individual loss."

She said she believed the display had also drawn people to the county as a whole.

"It has brought people from all over the country, a lot of international visitors into Lincolnshire," she said.

"Of course, they've discovered everything else this beautiful county has to offer."

Eamonn Hogan is smiling, he is wearing a blue cap and a black t-shirt. — Volunteer Eamonn Hogan says it was "extraordinary" to be part of the event

Volunteer Eamonn Hogan of Lincoln Rugby Club was among the volunteers helping dismantle the display.

"I said I would come and help not just lay the poppies but also pick them, clean them for the people who have kindly bought and donated to the charities we're cleaning these for," he said.

"I'm ex-RAF myself, we're surrounded by people who are ex-military and it's been an extraordinary thing to be part of."

A sea of red poppies piled in front of the IBCC's iconic spire. Volunteers picking the poppies and washing them can be seen in the distance. — The red poppy is the national symbol of remembrance in the UK

Peter Hiatt, who works on reception at the IBCC, said being part of the volunteering team packing the poppies was "brilliant".

"They're going all around the world," he said.

Mr Hiatt also said regular tea breaks were a "vital" part of the work.

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