A REMEMBRANCE display at a Forest church helped raise more than £100 for a project to improve access for people with disabilities.

Among the highlights of the week-long display at St Peter’s Church in Clearwell were 219 poppies knitted by the church’s Charlie’s Angels group and members of the 12-strong congregation.

Other parts of the display included medals awarded to soldiers from the village.

On the day before Remembrance Sunday, Charlie’s Angels also opened an “officers’ mess” in the church, offering light refreshments and live music with Songs That Won the War.

There were also tributes to local people who served in the two world wars and visitors were invited to place a Remembrance cross on the lawn.

Among the visitors were relations of First World War Victoria Cross recipient Fred Miles.

Charlie’s Angels was formed about four months ago and is raising money to improve disabled access, initially from the west door of the church.

The group is named after a small dog that comes along to committee meetings.

Isobel Winstanley, of Charlie’s Angels, said there had been a good turn-out from the community and a very positive reaction to the event.

She said: “We have had a lot of people through and the reaction has been good.

“Charlie’s Angels have been going for about four months and we are raising money for the church.

“We were going to have one giant poppy for display but we had our meetings and we knitted and knitted and the final count was 219 – it was amazing.

“While we were knitting we thought about opening the church and getting the community involved and we’ve been successful in that.”

The knitted poppies were a team effort with one member, Judy Osborne, learning the craft to contribute to the total.

“We set up the officers’ mess and all our Charlie’s Angels are brilliant bakers,

“Everyone is very generous with what they do and we don’t charge.”

The event raised £110 and other fund-raisers are planned, including a Christmas bazaar on November 24.

“It is for a disabled ramp for the west door of the church with a handrail set in.

“We’ll be able to move the ramp because we have about 30 weddings a year and the couples like to have their pictures taken there, so we don’t want a permanent ramp.

“It will make life a lot easier for people with disabilities.”

On Remembrance Sunday, some 300 people took part in the village service.