A QUILT depicting a plethora of scenes from the First World War has been unveiled at Abergavenny’s One Stop Shop writes DAVID LYNCH.

Pupils from King Henry VIII school and Cantref Primary were among others from across the county who worked with the Monmouthshire Decorative and Fine Art Society (MDFAS), to create the patchwork memorial to the Great War.

The school children worked alongside seven artists, as well as teachers, teaching assistants, and parents to produce 140 quilt panels during the 2015 summer term.

Taking part in quilting required the pupils to learn a variety of design and craft skills.

Seventy panels were used to make the quilt on display at the One Stop Shop, which depicts themes including the work of animals during the war, and the contributions of the 3rd Monmouthshire Regiment at Ypres in 1915.

The pupils see the quilt as a legacy of remembrance that can be passed on to the next generation.

A second quilt is being made from the other seventy panels, and will be unveiled in December and both will then be sewn together.

Karen Couchman of MDFAS was proud of the dedication that has gone into the commemorative art piece.

She said, “It took us 18 months to raise the funds to produce the quilt. The society raised the funds through a raffle and other sources, including an educational grant from the National Association of Fine Arts and Decorative Societies for which we are very grateful.”

Councillor John Prosser, who is Monmouthshire County Council’s Armed Forces champion attended the unveiling.

He said, “I’m very pleased with this fine tribute to those who served in the First World War by the school children of Monmouthshire, particularly so as we are approaching the season of Remembrance.”

The quilt (pictured bottom right) is intended to be exhibited at key venues around the county.