Volunteers sought for annual Poppy appeal collection

Last year’s appeal raised £65,074

Banbury’s annual poppy appeal collection is due to begin in a couple of weeks and we’re being asked if we could spare a little time to help.

Historically Banbury has always generously supported the annual Royal British Legion collection in the run-up to the Remembrance commemorations.   This year collections will take place at most of the local supermarkets.

Chris Smithson organises the collections here.   He said: “I’m looking for people for 2 hour stints.   When they turn up it’s all set up for them – they just engage with the public. It’s all very friendly and once they do it once they want to do it all the time!

“In the supermarkets (Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons) we have a table set up with all the merchandise.

“This year we’ve got a card reader and for this year also we’ve also got QR codes where the actual money will be coming to the family poppy appeal.”

Last year the Banbury area again outperformed other parts of Oxfordshire, with the amount donated locally to the Poppy Appeal totalling £65,074.

One collector, Helen, will return to help again this year, having reached a collecting milestone last year.   Chris said: “Last year was her 50th year, so we had a presentation for her, along with a cake that was made like a poppy box.   She was very chuffed.”

This year’s Poppy Appeal collections begin on Thursday October 26 and run through to Saturday Nov 11.   Anyone who can help is asked to phone Chris on 07703 316945.

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Published: 10/10/2023 12:48pm by Banbury FM Newsteam

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