May I thank the people of Trowbridge and surrounding villages for their generous support in response to Poppy Appeal 2014. Our volunteers in the shopping centres and supermarkets, in the streets and villages have been putting in long hours collecting donations for the Service and ex-Service family; the public have once again responded with exceptional generosity, not only with their money but in their conversation, support, stories and smiles at every opportunity.

I have already paid in more than £32,000 and there is quite a lot more to come. This is an astonishing sum of money and, on behalf of all those who will benefit from it, I thank each and every one of you for your kindness.

Rick Owen, Hon Poppy Appeal Organiser, Trowbridge Royal British Legion.