Hundreds turned out on Saturday for a celebration of crafts in Hitchin – featuring a display of knitted poppies honouring the town’s fallen First World War heroes.

The Comet: The Hitchin Stitchin' Remembrance Sunday display of 99 red poppies at Festiwool. Picture: Mia BeskeenThe Hitchin Stitchin' Remembrance Sunday display of 99 red poppies at Festiwool. Picture: Mia Beskeen (Image: Mia Beskeen)

The display at Festiwool, held this year at The Priory School, comprised 99 poppies, each representing one of the 99 Hitchin troopers killed in 1917.

The exhibit was particularly apt as the festival for lovers of textile art, sewing, knitting and crochet was held on Armistice Day.

Patricia Harris, one of the Hitchin Stitchin’ team behind the display, told the Comet: “We have a museum that hasn’t been open for four years, so people haven’t had a chance to pay their respects – and 1917 is the year of Passchendaele.

“We decided to make poppies for them, and because this was on Armistice Day, we made it into a display.”

Festiwool chief Philippa Gregory said the new venue at the school had been a great success, with 850 people in – and that she hoped it would be even bigger next year.