Trowbridge mayor Stephen Cooper has helped to launch the Wiltshire county town’s Royal British Legion annual Poppy Appeal.
Town crier Trevor Heeks presented Cllr Cooper with the first poppy on behalf of the RBL’s Trowbridge branch.
RBL veteran Poppy Appeal volunteer Linda Dowsett, from Southwick, also attended the launch at Trowbridge War Memorial to receive the mayor’s donation.
Cllr Cooper said "It is an honour to endorse this vital fundraiser that does so much to care for and rehabilitate the service and ex-service family.
“Trowbridge has, for very many years, supported our veterans and we as a town have a wonderful tradition of donating to this important appeal."
The Royal British Legion’s annual Poppy Appeal last year raised more than £124 million to support the armed forces community past and present.
The money is distributed to help serving and ex-serving members of the British Army, the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy, their families, and dependents.
In Trowbridge, the RBL's local branch collectors raised more than £48,800 last year. They included cadets from the Air Training Corp, Army and Sea Cadets.
RBL Trowbridge Poppy Appeal organiser, Lyn Owen, said: "The poppy stands will open in Tesco, Sainsburys and The Shires from Saturday, October 26 and the poppies will also be available in schools, shops and offices and in the villages."
“The cadet organisations, our wonderful army of volunteers, including once again the team from West Wiltshire Crematorium, will be on hand to chat, exchange stories and accept your donations.”
This year’s Poppy Appeal will run to Saturday, November 9. Volunteer collectors will be out and about in Wiltshire towns, villages, retail stores, offices and factories as usual.
In Trowbridge, you will find them in The Shires shopping centre, in Tesco and in Sainsbury’s ready to greet you, chat and accept your donations.
The Trowbridge Festival of Remembrance will take place in The Civic Centre on the evening of Friday, November 8-themed to commemorate the D-Day Landings.
The Remembrance Sunday service in Trowbridge will take place Sunday, November 10 with a parade and the Act of Remembrance at the war memorial in the Town Park in the run up to 11am.
Services will also be held in Salisbury and market towns across Wiltshire as the nation comes together to remember the fallen from the First and Second World Wars and more recent conflicts.
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