The award winning Stoke Gifford branch of the Royal British Legion (RBL) launched its 2012 Poppy Appeal on Friday (26th October) at Parkway Station.
The branch has been raising record amounts for the Poppy Appeal in recent years. In 2010/11, it raised £30,500 and then in 2011/12 it broke even that record with £37,500.
In 2010/11, the Stoke Gifford branch won the RBL Gloucestershire County Marling Cup for most improved branch, and achieved third place in the Williams Cup for increasing its poppy appeal total by over 27%.
Branch Poppy Appeal organiser John Moloney has set a target for the 2012/13 year for the branch to raise £40,000, which is a challenge in these tough financial times.
Nationally, the RBL raised £40 million in 2011/12, and for this year has set a national target £42 million.
Branch spokesman David Bell said:
“We are very grateful to the public for their continued support; it is with that support that we are able to help those who have served.”
Chair of Welfare Terry Webber said:
“The Poppy Appeal will bring us the vital cash we need to help ex-service personnel and their families, and current members of the services, to provide the help they require. The welfare work and the need are growing.”
The Stoke Gifford branch has a team of four welfare workers who carry out casework over a wide area.
Nationally the RBL distributes £1.7 million of help every week to service personnel and their families.
If you know anyone who may need the support of the RBL please contact Terry Webber, Welfare Chairman, on 0117 9091486.
If you would like to join the Legion please contact your local branch, or the Stoke Gifford branch President on 01454 775632.
If you would like to help the Legion please contact your local branch or the Stoke Gifford branch Poppy Appeal Organiser John Moloney, on 07802 535591.
Photo 1: 2012 Poppy Appeal launch at Parkway Station.
Photo 2: Jack Lopresti MP (left) and RBL Branch Publicity Officer David Bell at the 2012 Poppy Appeal launch.
Photos courtesy of Ryan Smith.
Comment from RBL Stoke Gifford Branch Chairman Brian Hewitt MBE:
Fantastic Poppy Launch today, at 14:00; the Main Concourse of Parkway Railway Station, with our host, the Station Manager, Linda Swainger, a great friend of the Royal British Legion in Stoke Gifford, cutting the tape.
The Branch Members turned out in force to support Linda’s Launch; there was our Press Officer, David Bell, very welcome Poppy Collectors, Branch Members, our two Poppy Organisers, John Moloney and Terry Webber, Branch Officials, three Members of the local Area Office of Barclays Bank who, with other colleagues, are going to spend a day blitzing Parkway Poppy collections, our local MP and Branch Member, Jack Lopresti and others.
The Press Photographer was organising and shooting us, with about ten other camera people; the camera flashers made us feel like film stars.
With a large crowd watching the proceedings, the overall vibes I picked up were that we are in are for yet another Record breaking Year for our Poppy Collections.
David was busy collecting before the Launch had finished.
Thank you to everybody who took the time to be present and to those who stopped and watched.
Brian Hewitt