Sellers for the annual Poppy Appeal, which commemorates the centenary of the Armistice on 11 November, were honoured with a reception at Government House this week in recognition of their efforts to raise funds.
Royal Signals Corps veteran Peter Line is one of the sellers braving the cold weather this week to offer his collection box.
‘It’s good to get out there and raise funds for such a worthwhile appeal,’ he said.
‘I served in the Falklands, in Northern Ireland and Oman and many other countries and to be able to help others that have served is really important. There are monthly breakfasts at Les Rocquettes that I go to and this money goes to help put that on and they’re great, we all get to talk to each other and have some banter and that is important to me and to them.’
Another seller, Frances Ogier, said she volunteered in memory of her father, who died on 11 November.
‘This is the first time I’ve done this,’ she said.
‘My father was part of the Royal British Legion and to me I thought this was a good way to honour him.’
During the reception at Government House, Lt-Governor Vice Admiral Sir Ian Corder thanked the poppy sellers for their time despite the weather.
‘Thank you to everyone who is taking time out to help with the appeal,’ he said.
‘A lot of help is still needed out there and these funds that we raise will go towards helping us reach more people.
‘It’s not expected to be particularly pleasant weather out there, so to be still going out to shake your collection buckets to do this is such a service to help others.’
Money raised will go towards the cost of events such as the Royal British Legion Guernsey Welfare Team’s monthly breakfasts at Les Rocquettes Hotel, as well as towards the cost of Combat Stress representatives who help with the mental health of servicemen and women.
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