Maria Miller, in her role as Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, is overseeing the Government’s four year UK-wide programme to mark the centenary of the First World War. She is also very keen to ensure that the centenary is marked locally as well.

Councillor Keith Chapman, Hampshire County Council’s Executive Member for Culture and Recreation is taking the lead for marking the centenary in Hampshire and Councillor Elaine Still, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities, Sports and Culture has the same role for the Borough.

Maria said: “Every part of the country played its part in the War, including Basingstoke, and we want ensure that we – and our children - understand the sacrifices that were made, and that we also recognise the impact that the War had on people’s lives at home too.”

“As part of this recognition, we would like to see real poppies flowering all over Basingstoke in 2014, just as they did in the fields of Flanders. We have planted poppy seeds outside Milestones Museum today, and I know that the County and Borough Councils are planning to plant more poppies in publicly owned spaces over the coming months. I would encourage schools, businesses and members of the public to think about doing the same, so that we have a really great show of poppies in 2014.”