In pictures: Royal Blind School pupils try their hand at making wreaths at Edinburgh’s poppy factory
Four pupils from Edinburgh’s Royal Blind School have tried their hand at making poppies at the city’s Redford Barracks.
Bo, Rebeka, Jay and Aiden were given a tour of Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory, meeting several of the ex-servicemen and women who live there.
They also met members of the Royal Regiment of Scotland including their Shetland pony mascot, Cpl Cruachan IV.
The pupils had a go at making poppies and worked together with the ex-servicemen to make a poppy wreath.
Royal Blind teacher Pam Young, who accompanied the pupils on the trip said: “They absolutely loved the experience of meeting the ex-servicemen.
“The Haig Poppy Factory made a huge effort to make sure that the pupils, all of whom are vision impaired, could touch and feel the poppies, and even the mascot pony which made the day so memorable and is so important for children who have sight loss.”
Aiden, 14, a pupil at the Royal Blind School, said: “I really enjoyed meeting and speaking to the ex-servicemen.”
Jay, 13, said: “I liked chatting with the ex-servicemen and making the wreaths together.”
Rebeka, 12 and Bo, 9 both said: “It was fantastic, we really loved meeting the pony and how the pony’s nose felt. It was fun to make the poppy wreaths.”
The original Lady Haig Poppy Factory was opened in March 1926, employing men who had been disabled during World War 1 to make poppies for Scotland.
The factory currently has a work force of 40 ex-servicemen, the large majority of whom are registered disabled.
The factory is currently operating from Redford Barracks in Colinton whilst its permanent home in Warriston Road is being renovated.
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