LOCAL businesses in Westbury are dressing their windows to commemorate this Remembrance weekend and support the fallen and injured in past world wars.
C.S Bowyer funeral directors, Wiltshire Air Ambulance charity shop on Maristow Street and Imperial Charity in the High Street have dressed their windows in poppies, British flags and items to replicate times of the war in time for Remembrance services this weekend.
Susan Partner, funeral service arranger at C.S.Bowyer has been working at the funeral directors for just over a year and wanted to become part of the community, so took on the project of creating a visual display in remembrance.
Roy Inwood, organiser of Westbury’s Christmas Tree Festival and heavily involved in the Westbury Music and Arts Festival, kindly lent Susan and C.S.Bowyer a large painting, created by local artist Alex Prowse, of a WW1 setting. This was originally used in a theatre piece at All Saints Church back in the summer. It now takes pride of place in the window at C.S.Bowyers surrounded by flags and poppies.
Neil Crook, funeral director at C.S Bowyer said, “In addition to providing practical help and support to bereaved families, we believe it’s important to make a positive contribution to this community. As an example of our beliefs, we decorate our window every year with a poppy display to show our support for the armed services and those that have sacrificed their lives protecting this country and its interests.
“This year’s window display has attracted many positive comments.”
Across the road, the Air Ambulance charity shop has also decorated its windows in remembrance, carried out by the staff and volunteers. This year’s theme is ‘evacuees.’
Kerry Aldous, staff member and creator of the display said, “I have been doing the displays each year now for around four or five years. Most of what is used in the displays are items that have already been donated into the shop such as clothing. However, some of the items have been donated especially for the window displays that we bring out every year.”
Maristow Street in Westbury has also become dressed in poppies with many shops and small businesses joining in with the creation of the shop windows.
The theme continues in the High Street with volunteers at Imperial Charity also dressing their window in remembrance. All volunteers and staff had a hand in creating the display with head designer Wendy M. The items have all been donated by local people and some loaned just for the display.
Judy Fogarty said, “It’s really important to carry on this tradition for the children. It was an emotional task as Chris is an ex-service man and it’s sad to remember those who have fallen.”
Susan Partner at CS Bowyer added, “I just hope that we can come together as a community and more shops will begin to dress their windows. I have become very friendly with the staff at the Air Ambulance shop and it’s lovely that both of the windows complement each other. It doesn’t take very long to do, but it is something that everyone should get involved with”
