Service charity round-up: Behind the scenes of Blood Swept Lands and more

Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red began at the Tower of London earlier this month.  

The installation's official opening was timed for August 5th, to come exactly 100 years after Britain spent its initial day as a participant in World War One.

The event takes the form of an art installation made up of more than 800,000 ceramic poppies, all placed in the dry moat of the tower.

The Mirror has taken a trip to Derby, where the factory that the ceramic flowers are being made in is based.

One worker there, Niall Young, told the news provider:  "We treat each flower with reverence because, to us, each one really does represent a life."

The idea is that 888,246 poppies will eventually be displayed in the installation, with the individual flowers each a symbol of one of the British military deaths that happened during World War One.

Mr Young has spoken poetically to the news provider about his task, saying that he loads kilns, ensuring the flowers are correctly stacked and that damage doesn't occur.

However, he said, because of the way clay is, some flowers do break – and these are buried.

"When that happens it’s very poignant, because that’s what happened in World War One – these young lads didn’t have much training so they were as fragile as clay and they were cut down like flowers in the early stages of bloom," he added.

The first poppy to be placed at the Tower itself was planted by Yeoman Warder YS Crawford Butler several weeks ago.

Paul Cummins is the artist behind the work, with Tom Piper, a stage designer, setting it.

November 11th this year will see the last poppy of the many thousands involved put into place, and all the flowers involved can be bought – with sales helping various service charities, from Help for Heroes to Combat Stress.

The Mirror reported on August 10th that over 100,000 poppies have been bought.

Taking readers through the production process, it explains that the process starts with big clay blocks. These are sliced and then slices rolled out, after which a metal stencil is put to work cutting out petals.

After a hole is made in the flower, the petals are moulded into the correct shape. After that, the poppies go into a kiln.

Another charity being helped by Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red is SSAFA.

In another move themed around WW1, this same charity has just brought out a new version of 'Pack up Your Troubles' and a video for the song that features famous faces like Alan Titchmarsh.

The charity had the chance to record the famous WW1 number because it has the go-ahead of the composer's grandson, Aubrey Powell, another person who is in the new video.

Jonjo Kerr, a one-time soldier who appeared on The X Factor in 2011 and Eamonn Holmes, are among the other people to appear, as are the Military Wives Choir.

“We were thrilled when Aubrey gave us his blessing to record the song for the WWI Centenary. It’s been a great way to bring everyone together – those we’ve supported through difficult times, and those who support us in providing that help," said SSAFA vice national chair, Kirsty Bushell, on the charity's website.

At the start of WW1, she explained,  SSAFA was the sole organisation helping families of people fighting. "We were there for them then, and we’re still here for them now," she added.

On Sunday August 10th, Military Wives Choir members took part in a launch event near Tower Bridge, which involved a sing along to the well-known song.

Dame Vera Lynn, has said of the song, quoted on the charity's site: "It’s such an optimistic song, and you can easily see why it helped keep up morale among the forces, as well as on the home front."

She said in her opinion the message of the number has retained all its relevance, 100 years after the War.

The Lancashire evening Post has talked to Jonjo Kerr about his part in the Pack Up your Troubles video. He said taking part was a lot of fun and genuine honour.

"But it is important that we remember that the troops involved in WWI and their families suffered terribly during the conflict," he added.

And, more important still, the SSAFA provided much help then, and still does so now, he added.