Over 1,000 visit Longest Yarn in opening week

The extraordinary exhibition capturing WWII through knitted scenes has attracted over 1,000 people from across the UK during the first week.

Visitors have come from as far as Somerset, Bristol, Colchester, Wigan, Redditch, Stoke and many other places around the UK to walk through the Longest Yarn exhibition which consists of more than 80 scenes that have been knitted by dozens of talented people.

Lead organiser Alan Crowe said that people cannot get over how much detail and historic accuracy has been put into each of the display cabinets and eight life size mannequins.

“It’s been a fantastic week and is bringing so many people into the town who are staying in local hotels and B&Bs and also spending their money here,” said Mr Crowe.

The Longest Yarn is being hosted at the Town Hall throughout the entire month of September.

The official opening was attended by Mrs Tia Jones, Lord Lieutenant of Powys, The Mayor & Mayoress of Welshpool Councillor & Mrs Bill Rowell, and representatives from Mid Wales Tourism and other organisations.

On arrival guests were piped in by John Millins (pictured below by Gary Williams) as they made their way up the stairs. John’s father Bill was the infamous piper on Sword Beach during the D-Day landings and as part of the ceremony, he talked of his father’s heroic exploits.

Longest Yard Fringe

To coincide with the exhibition, Mr Crowe has organised a month-long series of fringe events which is a first in the history of the Longest Yarn, which will tour UK towns and cities over the next 18 months.

Events still to come include

Thursday 10th 2.30pm: Talk - Surviving the Great War.

Thursday 10^th 7pm: Play - Meet Tommy Atkins. Telling Tommy's story from World War 1, through the great depression to World War 2. 

Friday 11^th 3pm & 7pm: Play Idle women of the waterways telling the story of how canals were used to transport goods, munitions around the country during the war.

Saturday 12^th 5.30pm: Play Rose's War how a woman works on a narrowboat during the war.

Saturday 12th: Military Fair in Corn Exchange with various ex service organisations etc.

Sunday 13^th 10am-4pm: Craft Fair in Corn Exchange.

Tuesday 15^th 2pm: Talk on wartime comedians.

Sat 19^th & Sun 20^th from 10am: Food & Drink Fair. A few tables still available.

For further information on the exhibition and the Fringe Events visit www.longestyarnwelshpool.co.uk