Sight Scotland Veterans Visit Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory Ahead of Remembrance Day

As Remembrance Day approaches, veterans from Sight Scotland Veterans recently took a special trip to Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory in Edinburgh. Organised by The Linburn Centre, the visit gave veterans a chance to learn about the history behind Scotland’s iconic poppies and see where these symbols of remembrance are made.

Founded in 1926 by Lady Haig, the widow of Field Marshal Earl Haig, the poppy factory has been creating poppies by hand for nearly 100 years. Much of the work is still done by veterans, and the factory still uses some of its original machinery. Every poppy and wreath is carefully crafted by hand, right down to the boxes they’re packed in.

For many of the veterans, the visit brought back memories and taught them new things about the poppies they wear every November. Bob, who worked at the factory in the 1970s, said, “It was great to go back. I learnt things I never knew when I worked there. I couldn’t believe some of the old machinery was still there. I had a brilliant day!” Tom, another visitor, added, “It was very interesting finding out how the poppies were made. There was one poppy that had twenty layers to it. It was a great day.”