A group of 20 veterans attended the stunning Bemersyde residence in the Scottish Borders this week, to recreate a historic photograph linked to their place of work.
The team from Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory in Edinburgh travelled to the 16th century country house set above the River Tweed, near Melrose, as part of the factory’s centenary year celebrations. The visit saw them pose for the same shot at the exact same location as 60 ex-servicemen who worked for the factory, some 90-plus years ago in the early 1930s.
Bemersyde House has been the ancestral home of the Haig family for over 800 years. After WWI, Field Marshall Earl Haig, the commander of British forces during the war, returned to the estate.
Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory was founded in 1926 by Countess Dorothy Haig, the wife of Field Marshall Haig. She established the Edinburgh-based factory to produce poppies exclusively for Scotland, whilst also providing meaningful and dignified work for men disabled as a result of their service.
To this day a team of 40 veterans all with supported needs, continue to manufacture thousands of handmade wreaths and other remembrance symbols from purpose-built premises on the capital’s Warriston Road. The factory also produces over 2.1 million poppies for the Scottish Poppy Appeal, organised annually by Poppyscotland in October and November.
During their visit to Bemersyde, the veterans were given a tour of the property by Countess Jane Haig, the wife of 3rd Earl Haig, Alexander Douglas Derrick, taking in the stunning views of the Borders countryside from the 16th century peel tower, before then recreating the historic photograph in front of the sundial in the grounds of the home.
Lady Haig said: “It was a pleasure to welcome the veterans from Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory to Bemersyde, and wonderful to be able to capture the same photograph almost 100 years later.
“We are proud to maintain the relationship between the Haig family and the factory to this day, and we wish them a very successful centenary.”
Major Charlie Pelling (Retd), Factory Manager added: “We are extremely grateful to Earl and Lady Haig for welcoming us to their private Bemersyde estate, to mark another milestone in our centenary by recreating the old image taken back in the early 1930’s.
“The team very much enjoyed the tour of the house, and hearing all about its history throughout the generations of the Haig family. The beautiful home has certainly seen a lot over the decades.”
To learn more about the factory’s history, or to book a tour of Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory, please visit www.poppyscotland.org.uk
