THE High Sheriff of Hampshire will officially unveil a memorial to commemorate the First World War.

Lady Louisa Portal will reveal the prize-winning piece of textile art at Whitchurch Town Hall on July 4.

The competition Sowings for New Spring was launched by Whitchurch Town Council and Hampshire County Council to commemorate the war through the activities of ordinary people, and the winning piece has been created by Royal College of Art graduate Rhiannon Williams.

She was given £2,000 for her winning proposal to create the finished piece, which will now be owned by the town’s residents and be on permanent public display in the town hall from Monday, July 6, following the official unveiling of the piece on July 4.

Whitchurch mayor Barry Jackman said: “During the Great War, our mill was active and the people of Whitchurch were contributing to the war effort, both by sending some of its people to fight and retaining others to contribute in other ways at home.

“This is a similar experience to so many other communities across Britain.”

He added: “We set out to commission a joyful object; a thing of beauty and hope, and Rhiannon has given us something truly extraordinary.”

Artists entering the competition were given a brief formed using stories collected by the community of the experiences of their families.

Winning artist Rhiannon is an embroidery artist who graduated last year.

She has exhibited her artwork and textiles internationally, and is currently based in Stockholm as a textile designer.

Speaking of her work, Rhiannon said: “In piecing together the old, salvaged remnants of cloth, a beautiful new blanket is created, bringing use and comfort, but with old memories embedded in its fragments. I hope that this hanging holds on to the memories of those lives taken in the wars gone by, and represents the hope, strength and endurance demonstrated by the soldiers, families, and communities involved in the First World War, and the continuing war efforts.”