Huge thanks to the AIA’s talented Dreel Crafters, who have created a striking and poignant Remembrance Day installation at Dreel Halls. Hand knitted poppies adorn the front entrance of our community building, cascading over a five metre drop from a window at the front of the 16th century St Nicholas Tower, creating a beautiful display and wonderful tribute of remembrance.

Volunteers sourced the fishing net, with assistance from Pittenweem Harbour Master, Steven Middleton, who very kindly gave support to the project by cutting and shaping the net to create two drapes to hang above the entrance of the building. The repurposed fishing net is representative of our fishing heritage in the East Neuk and creates a unique backdrop for the poppies. The hand crafted display also includes poppies on stakes dotted around the graveyard surrounding the building, garlands wrapped around posts and three poppy covered wreaths.

The Dreel Crafters group started in 2022 and now meets twice weekly at Dreel Halls. The crafters installed a small remembrance display of 250 hand knitted poppies outside our heritage building and surrounding graveyard in 2024. After a positive response from the community the group were inspired to do more. Over the past twelve months, members of the group continued to regularly knit poppies, extending the invitation to the local community to contribute to their Poppies Project. The shared project connected people in a new way, it encouraged others to get involved and contribute with a shared aim. Friends, family members and people from the wider community have donated their knitting to the group’s project, some from as far afield as Wales.

The group collected over 2,000 poppies for this years Remembrance Day display at Dreel Halls and the surrounding Anstruther Wester graveyard, home to a Commonwealth War Grave. The Upper Hall of Dreel Halls, the former Anster Wester Town Hall, was at one time the meeting place of the Royal British Legion. The Poppies Project highlights both the past and present use of our historic building, whilst paying tribute and remembering those we have lost.

Looking ahead, the AIA plan to work with their resident baby and toddler group to create paper plate poppy crafts in November, allowing the youngest members of the local community to take part and learn about the meaning. A collection tin will be held at Dreel Halls for donations for the Scottish Poppy Appeal, organised by Anstruther, Cellardyke & Kilrenny Community Council.