A CERAMIC poppy for each of the 1,063 Monmouthshire service men and women who died in action from World War One to the present were unveiled in a moving ceremony at Raglan Castle on Sunday.

The display which will be open to the public for a two-week period was created by Monmouthshire District Scouts as part of the Monmouthshire Remembers project.

Six months of effort involving research into fallen service personnel and the creation of the poppies went into creating the tribute.

The scouts were joined by many local schools who got so involved and enthusiastic in the creation of the poppies that organisers finished up with close to 2,500 altogether.

Following the exhibition, the poppies will be stored for the winter before becoming part of the St David’s Day celebrations in 2019.

A tour of Monmouthshire will follow taking in such locations as Abergavenny and Usk castles. Hopefully, the named poppies will then be placed in the Royal British Legion Garden of Remembrance in Cardiff.

The forming, firing and painting of the blooms was done with assistance from Newport-based ceramic company, Celtic Kilnware. There was also assistance from Caldicot Comprehensive School, Ysgol Gyfun Gwynlliw, Pontypool and Monmouth Boys and Girls Schools.

All poppies apart from the named ones will eventually be put on sale to the public for £10 each with proceeds divided between the Royal British Legion and Monmouthshire District Scouts.