Poppy sales to raise tens of thousands of pounds locally

Friday 11 November 2022

The generosity of people across the Bailiwick has been observed again this year with poppies being sold, or donations made by people who own longer lasting poppy items of jewellery already.

The Royal British Legion is holding its annual fundraising week which leads up to today's Armistice Day commemorations and Sunday's Remembrance events.

This echoes events across the country where money is raised to support ex-service personnel in many ways.

Major Bob Place of the Guernsey Branch of the Royal British Legion said he is astounded every year by how generous people are.

"People in Guernsey are amazingly generous," he said.

"This morning I had one man say I have an enamel poppy I bought last year and just stick £20 in there. We get around, over £50,000, sometimes it's been nearly £70,000."

Pictured: Major Bob Place and others have been fund-raising all week.

Major Place said the money raised locally supports ex-service personnel who need medical treatment, help with housing or other social issues, and the charity can offer support in other ways too.

It arranges social events as well including a monthly breakfast gathering for ex-service personnel and their families. The most recent was hosted at Les Rocquettes Hotel.

"The Head of Welfare said we'll see how it goes for the first couple of months and then there's a good chance it'll peter out. Well it's been going for three years and this week we had 70 people and that's service men, and women, and their families.

"The Rocquettes Hotel really, really looks after us and Stan Brouard's subsidises anything over if we get too many people. So we get a lot of support, and it's a real buzz to get 70 families together and the craic's great."

To aid the fundraising this year the Royal British Legion has a flag day on Saturday where donations can be made in exchange for a poppy. They've also had fixed stands at Waitrose in the Rohais and at the Albany all week.

Major Place has been involved with the charity since his own military career came to an end.

His work continued as a reservist once he had left the services full time. He has been involved with arranging the military parades in Guernsey for Remembrance Sunday, Armistice Day, Liberation Day, and other events since returning to the island.

Remembrance Sunday will be observed this weekend, 14 November.

A two minute silence will be observed at 11:00 with the canon fired from Castle Cornet to mark the beginning and end of it.

Wreaths will be laid at the war memorial at the top of Smith Street, led by the Bailiff and Lieutenant Governor.