Poppy Appeal gets under way

WESTBURY’S Poppy Appeal will begin this week, and organisers are hoping for another bumper collection in the lead up to Remembrance Sunday.

Poppies will be available from shops, pubs, and clubs around the town from this Friday 23rd October, and collectors will be out in person from Thursday 5th to Wednesday 11th November.

This year’s Remembrance Day Parade will take place on Sunday 8th November.

Local man, Bill Prior, has been organising Westbury’s appeal for 28 years.

Bill said, “We raised £8,500 in 2014 and the amount has gone up quite substantially every year since we started. People in Westbury give very generously when it comes to the Poppy Appeal.

“We will be selling poppies in the Co-op, Aldi and Morrisons, and they’ll be available in shops around the town. The money collected will all go to the Royal British Legion, which helps ex-military servicemen and their families.

“It’s an important event for the British Legion and takes a lot of time and effort to organise, but we’ve got a tried and tested method in Westbury and I enjoy the work; it keeps me young!”

Westbury’s branch of the Royal British Legion has 39 members and meets on the first Monday of every month from 8pm at the Horse and Groom.

New members are always welcomed and need only turn up at a meeting or contact branch president Eddie Bridges on 01373 823316.

Eddie said, “There is fundraising going on all year round for the legion, but the Poppy Appeal is the main national event, it’s very important to the charity.

“I think it’s so popular because the money is ringfenced, none of the collection money is used to pay wages or administration, but it goes to the people who really need it.”

If you would like to volunteer to help with this year’s Poppy Appeal, contact Bill Prior on 01373 827655.

Remembrance Parade

Westbury’s annual Remembrance Parade and service will take place on Sunday 8th November, starting at the Market Place at 10am.

The service will then start at approximately 10.30am, before the wreath laying at 11.00am.

Eddie said, “The Remembrance Day service is actually a civil occasion but the Royal British Legion are very proud to organise it.

“It’s always very well attended and collections at last year’s service alone reached £900.”