Wednesday, 07 Nov 2018 12:37 GMT

Famous Ypres Memorial recreated in Blackpool

Commemorating the First World War Centenary, Signs Express (Central Lancashire) was tasked to create a 5:1 replica of the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial in Belgium.

Adorned with over 30,000 hand-knitted poppies, the team transformed an MDF structure into a smaller version of the famous memorial that will be on display for the Remembrance service at Blackpool Victoria Hospital.

To recreate the memorial as authentically as possible, Signs Express used over 90 metres of printed vinyl to reconstruct the look of red bricks, plaques and decorative features. The project took a week to complete despite the team facing challenges when adding grain to the stonework which had to be applied horizontally. 

Matt Rutlidge of Signs Express (Central Lancashire) comments on the project: “We’re absolutely over the moon with how this turned out, especially knowing how much it means to everyone involved. Tom Smith and I really enjoyed the challenging installation and hats off to our designer, Tom Van-Boyd who did an excellent job recreating some of the more detailed features of the memorial.”

We’re absolutely over the moon with how this turned out, especially knowing how much it means to everyone involved

Nigel Fort, associate director of facilities for the Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, comments: “I have worked with Signs Express on two prominent projects for the Trust in the last few months and have been delighted with the quality of the finished product, especially as they were both very innovative in nature. This is matched by the professionalism, commitment and passion of everyone in the team who I have dealt with.

“We will certainly be working with them on a wide range of future initiatives and I would have no hesitation in recommending their services as much for the way in which they conduct themselves as for the high quality of their products and workmanship.”

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