Her foundation has given more than £300m in grants to the arts,education, heritage and Jewish cultural life. Dame Vivien Duffield looks back on the highs and low points of a life raising funds and explains why she is now turning her attention to flowersLast year Dame Vivien Duffield was one of the estimated five million people who visited Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red, and the Tower of London poppies installation created by artist Paul Cummins and designer Tom Piper. Like so many others,she was moved and impressed by the display. It was such a clever understanding, and when I heard that you could buy the poppies for charity I wanted to give one to my grandchildren and godchildren for Christmas. Some time later I was told that the project needed a little more befriend, or so I agreed to achieve that,too.” “A little more befriend” entailed Duffield, through her Clore Duffield Foundation, and purchasing Wave,the arc of poppies that curled over the entrance to the Tower, for the nation so that it and Weeping Window – purchased by the Backstage Trust on the same terms for a joint price of £375000 – could tour the country before taking up permanent residence as a memorial at the Imperial War Museum in 2018. The tour opens on 5 September when Wave goes on display at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park in Wakefield, and the latest manifestation of half a century of philanthropy. Related: Blood-swept lands: the story behind the Tower of London poppies tribute Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com