The Queen has visited local community projects in Wiltshire – first The Poppy Project in Corsham, followed by the new Bromham Community Hub.
In Corsham, Her Majesty has visited The Poppy Project, a display of knitted and crocheted poppies created to mark the 80th Anniversary of the end of the Second World War.
The Peacock WI launched The Poppy Project at the start of the year, with a goal to create 10,000 poppies for display in the town. The group received over 31,000 poppies from across the UK and overseas, including schools, youth organisations, residential homes and businesses in the area.
At Martingate Shopping Centre, a dedicated Poppy Shop was opened to provide free knitting lessons and coordinate community involvement. Here, The Queen joined a poppy workshop, meeting those involved in making the poppies and observing a demonstration of how they have been created.
Following this, at St. Bartholomew’s Church, The Queen lay a wreath at the First World War Memorial, before attaching the final poppy to complete the cascade of 10,000 poppies draping the church tower.
Inside the church, The Queen met community groups, including representatives from the Royal British Legion, St. Bartholomew’s Church, and the Peacock WI Corsham.
The displays will be exhibited in Corsham for Remembrance 2025 and will then be preserved and stored as a community asset for future commemorative use in the town and local parishes. The Poppy Project is intended to stand as a testament to Corsham’s spirit of remembrance, gratitude and community
Later, The Queen opened the new Bromham Community Hub and met local representatives and organisations who use the building. The new Hub, featuring a café and flexible community spaces, aims to reinvigorate village life, reduce isolation, and support mental wellbeing.
Inside the hall, The Queen spoke to groups and organisations, including supporters of the development, professionals involved in the Hub’s construction, and community groups who use the new space – such as the Bromham Stitchers’ Group.
In June 2021, a devastating fire destroyed Bromham’s long-standing Social Centre, which had served the village since 1974. Its loss affected the community, so the community came together to help raise funds to rebuild the centre through a combination of fundraising initiatives. Construction commenced in September 2024, and the building was officially handed over to the Trust in July 2025.
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