Striking poppy display to line city's famous pier
The display will run the entire 1.33-mile (2.14km) length of Southend Pier in Essex from 5-16 November.
People have been invited to donate their creations by the end of September.
Labour city councillor Matt Dent said it would be a "truly memorable" commemoration.
The display would culminate with a "dramatic installation at the pier's selfie signpost", Southend-on-Sea City Council said.
Crafters of all skills were encouraged to get involved, with Dent hoping it would instil "a sense of civic pride".
He added: "As well as being a poignant tribute, I expect the display will give a welcome boost to tourism and visitor numbers on the pier during the quieter off-peak season."
Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Much-loved biker event makes comeback
Rundown playgrounds will be spruced up with £1m
Seafront celebrates first City Day festival
Southend-on-Sea City Council
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Woman Driven 'Mad' by Sister-in-Law's Posts About Dad Who 'Died 10 Years Ago': 'At What Point Is This Just Attention-Seeking?'
"It drives me mad. I've gone so far as to silence her," the woman said A woman is taking issue with her sister-in-law over social media posts she makes about her late father — who died a decade ago. In a post on the U.K.-based forum Mumsnet, the woman said her in-law's dad "died 10 years ago, and yet, it's almost daily, but definitely weekly, she's posting her grief on Facebook." The woman further detailed that her sister-in-law will write about "[how] much she's missing him, how grief is so silent and misunderstood," and it "escalates" on holidays — including Father's Day, Christmas and Easter — as well as "the day he died [and] the day they found out he was ill," plus "her kids birthdays [and] her birthday." "I used to get on with her well, but she's always driven me mad by text and socials," the woman continued. "At what point is this just attention seeking? It drives me mad. I've gone so far as to silence her because I can't bear the 'hope you're okay, hun,' stuff." The Mumsnet user added that her sister-in-law's "behavior has absolutely trashed my opinion of her," and it was exacerbated when she claimed her in-law "even got in competition with a relative of hers raising money for charity, because she had to be the one seen to be doing it and wouldn't collaborate." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. In the comments section of the post, the woman was met with support from others, many of whom suggested that her sister-in-law needs professional aid to help her cope with the loss. "It sounds like she needs some counselling to help her manage her grief," one Mumsnet user wrote, as another said, "This sounds like an abnormal grief reaction. She really needs therapy, if she has not had this already." The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! Others, meanwhile, couldn't help but feel that the woman's sister-in-law was taking things a step too far — and possibly continuing to post about her grief solely to get the reactions she has become accustomed to. "There's a huge difference between missing someone on special occasions or memorable dates and actually posting about it ... No need," wrote a commenter. Said one more: "It may be cruel of me, but I have no tolerance at all for performative or over-sentimental public grief." Read the original article on People Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Jalsa Salana: UK Muslim women ‘concerned' over negative attitudes toward hijab
British Muslim women attending the UK's largest Islamic convention have expressed their concerns after a survey found half of Britons believe Muslim women are pressured into wearing the hijab. Held annually at Oakland Farm in Alton, Hampshire, the Jalsa Salana attracts more than 40,000 participants in the Ahmadiyya Muslim community from across the world. As the event concluded on Sunday, a number of Muslim women in attendance reacted to the findings of a recent YouGov polling commissioned by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community which found that 49% of respondents believe 'most British Muslim women who wear a hijab do so because they feel pressured by their family or community.' 'I was very disappointed, but maybe not all together surprised,' Munazzah Chou, 40, said. 'I think the scale was quite eye-opening, because it's quite a significant proportion.' Ms Chou, who works as an ophthalmologist in the NHS, added: 'The misconceptions about Muslim women in particular are slightly insulting toward the intellectual capacity of Muslim women. 'People make choices every day that we don't understand: as a doctor, I see patients and we offer them treatments, and they often make choices that we wouldn't recommend, but I never jump to the conclusion that they're being coerced. 'I know that my choice to wear hijab is just based on my religious belief.' Referring to the Jalsa Salana convention, she added: 'There are 20,000 women here who would have a different journey towards wearing their hijab, but I think every single one of them would tell you how this is not a coercive practice. 'They've done it out of personal choice, and all from possibly slightly different, nuanced reasons – but all out of free will.' Syeda Ahmad, 23, said the polling results made her feel as though Muslim women 'keep having to have the same conversations and make the same points over and over again'. 'We do make our own choices, and we are fully thinking human beings who are able to do that ourselves,' she said. 'I feel like the results are maybe a reflection of a certain kind of attitude towards Muslim women that is more concerned with telling us how we feel and what we need, as opposed to asking us.' University student Unaizah Ahmad, 25, said she felt 'concerned' over the polling results. 'When there are calls made for hijab bans, I wonder if this is the mentality that is playing in the background and plays a role in people,' she said. 'And in my experience, it's the complete opposite. 'My hijab is completely my own choice. My religion, the way I practice it, is completely my own choice. 'I've never felt coerced or pressured to do with it. 'To people who hold that belief: I would encourage them to speak to Muslim women who wear a hijab, and hear it from them instead of giving in to preconceived biases.' In June, Reform deputy leader Richard Tice said there should be a 'national debate' on banning the burka. This came as former party chairman Zia Yusuf resigned following an internal row, in which he described a question asked to the Prime Minister by the party's newest MP, Sarah Pochin, about banning the burka as 'dumb'. Syeda Ahmad also further raised concerns over how these renewed calls for a ban on face-covering clothes will impact upon Muslim women and girls. 'If you're actually concerned about Muslim women and how we might be feeling, one of the worst things you can do is project your own prejudices and assumptions onto us,' she said. 'We've seen in other European countries that have introduced things like hijab bans or burka bans – we know from research that only serves to alienate Muslim women. 'It restricts them from places of education. It restricts them from places of work.' Wearing face-covering clothes is currently banned in seven European countries – France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Switzerland, Austria and Bulgaria – while other countries have enacted partial bans. 'A great thing about Britain is that there are no bans like that,' Ms Ahmad added. 'That's why you'll find Muslim women in this country working in all manner of professions, as confident people.' She added: 'Religion is personal to people. 'They decide what they want to do, what they want to follow, how far they want to follow it, and there's no punishment for not wearing a hijab in Islam. 'Crucially, Islam allows you to make a personal choice.' A spokesperson for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community said the survey's results 'highlight a persistent misunderstanding about Islamic teachings on modesty and women's choices'. The YouGov survey of 2,130 adults in Great Britain in mid-July asked people if they felt different groups of immigrants by religion generally have a positive or negative impact on the UK. While 41% said Muslim immigrants have a negative impact, the proportions feeling this way were much lower for other groups. Just under a quarter (24%) of respondents felt Muslim immigrants had a positive impact on the UK, lower than for any of the other religions stated.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Hero Edinburgh RNLI crews race to 'kite-surfer in difficulty' at beauty spot
Hero Edinburgh RNLI crews were sent to rescue a kite-surfer in difficulty at a beauty spot. The RNLI Queensferry Lifeboat was sent to Pettycur Bay on Saturday, July 26, to undertake a search of the area. The team were made aware after participating in a demonstration alongside Kinghorn Lifeboat. The casualty was located just east of the No.8 channel market off Kinghorn Bay. READ MORE: Netflix viewers rush to watch 'compelling' BBC drama series set in Edinburgh READ MORE: Edinburgh's first 'queer cafe' announces closure as owners say 'this is only the beginning' They had been drifting out of the bay and unable to get their kite back up. The casualty was then taken back to where they had launched from at Pettycur Beach. A statement from RNLI Queensferry reads: "Queensferry Lifeboat and crew were visiting Kinghorn Bay to take part in Kinghorn RNLI Lifeboat Open Day celebrations on Saturday 26 July. "Just after participating in a demonstration alongside Kinghorn Lifeboat, UK Coastguard recieved reports of a kitesurfer in difficulty at Pettycur Bay. As Kinghorn Lifeboat had already recovered and Queensferry Lifeboat was in the area, the Queensferry crew were tasked to the incident. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sentstraight to your messages. "The lifeboat arrived on scene within minutes and undertook a short search of the area. The casualty was located just east of the No.8 channel marker off Kinghorn Bay. "The casualty had been drifting out of the bay and unable to get their kite back up. Volunteer crew recovered the casualty and kite surfing equipment to the lifeboat. The casualty was taken back to where they had launched from at Pettycur Beach and had been with a group of kitesurfers, who had raised the alarm."