Over 100 people have come forward to help greet the thousands of visitors expected to attend Shoebury’s Barge Pier when the celebrated sculpture Poppies: Wave by artist Paul Cummins and designer Tom Piper arrives in Southend as part of 14-18 NOW’s UK-wide tour.

So far 116 people have contacted the council to express interest in becoming “Wave Makers” who will welcome the thousands of visitors expected to visit Wave when the sculpture comes to the Borough from April 12 to June 25.

Around 150 volunteers are needed to cover a total of 210 four-hour shifts, with volunteers being asked to cover as many or few shifts as they wish.

An induction will be given to all volunteers with the aim of having a minimum of three volunteers covering each shift. Volunteers can sign up for as little or as many shifts as they would like.

“Wave Makers” will be on hand to help visitors by answering questions, giving directions or just being a friendly face for a chat.

Cllr Ann Holland, Councillor for Culture, Tourism and the Economy, said: “I’ve been absolutely delighted with the response so far to our appeal for volunteers. There’s a huge buzz among local people who want to be able to say I was there.

“The London Olympics showed us all how valuable a contribution volunteers can make to an event’s success. Poppies: Wave coming to Southend will be a massive visitor boost to the town as it celebrates its 125 year anniversary.

"We’ve had a very promising start to our recruitment campaign and I’d urge local people not to miss this exciting opportunity to be involved.”     

Southend was the scene of one of the first air-raid attacks on the UK, and the Garrison at Shoeburyness was home to the first British School of Gunnery and a test site for artillery gun shells used during WW1.