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Deal: DVD shows work behind Kingsdown mum’s poppy tribute to son killed in combat

A video of the behind the scene works which went into the making and displaying of 3,500 poppies that filled Kingsdown Church last November will be screened this month.

The Remembrance project was led by villager Masheeda Downing, the mother of Sq Ldr Anthony Downing who died after being wounded in Afghanistan in 2011.

What started as an idea last July, saw community groups including Goodwins WI, members of the Inner Wheel club and Kingsdown Primary School come together to support the project.

The DVD will show Masheeda Downing and her friends making and sorting through the poppies
The DVD will show Masheeda Downing and her friends making and sorting through the poppies

Contributions ranged from small woollen poppies and shells to giant paper creations, each one representing those who had made the ultimate sacrifice.

Residents’ efforts will now be shown in a DVD, shot and created by Derek Hough and his team from DDS Film Presentation.

Mrs Downing said: “I said about my idea to do the poppies for Remembrance Sunday at our craft group and they knew I was doing it because of Anthony and to bring the community together.

“Derek’s wife Pam comes to our class and she asked if Derek and his team could come and do a DVD. I said yes.”

The 45-minute film shows the Kingsdown Quilters and Craft group, who meet in the church every Friday from 1pm until 3pm, hard at work as well as in Mrs Downing’s home in Hillcrest Road attaching the handcrafted flowers to a huge camouflage, donated by the RAF, which was later draped over the alter at the back of the church.

RAF Squadron Leader Anthony Downing died in 2011
RAF Squadron Leader Anthony Downing died in 2011

The video also includes the speech delivered by Major Richard Emmerson of the Royal Dragoon Guards, a friend of Anthony Downing, about what it is like to go to war, at the Remembrance service.

Mrs Downing said: “It includes all the background information and why we started it.

“It’s very moving.”

It will be shown at St John the Evangelist Church, Kingsdown, on Friday, April 21, at 7.30pm. Doors will be open from 7pm.

Entry is by donation to St John’s Church Heritage Fund.

The DVD will be available by request after the event at a cost of £5. £3 will go to the church fund.

For more information call Masheeda on 01304 360850.

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