The Stoke Gifford branch of The Royal British Legion (RBL) launched its 2017/18 Poppy Appeal with a ceremony in the foyer of Bristol Parkway Station on Friday 27th October.
The branch was pleased to welcome a special guest, Chelsea Pensioner Michael Allen, who cut a ceremonial ribbon to mark the start of the local appeal. Mr Allen retired from the army in 1982 following 25 years of service with the Royal Engineers and the Royal Military Police.
The ceremony was also attended by World War Two veteran Michael Kendall (Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order), Parkway Station manager Linda Swainger, Jack Lopresti MP (RBL branch vice-president) and representatives of several local groups including 1st Stoke Gifford Scouts, 2nd Stoke Gifford Rainbows, ATC North Bristol Squadron, Bristol Adventure Sea Cadets and Bristol RBL Riders (motorcyclists).
Parkway Station is one of the main sites for the branch’s fundraising efforts, along with the Asda store in Filton, Sainsbury’s in Stoke Gifford and the Willow Brook Centre in Bradley Stoke.
Money raised through the Poppy Appeal goes to the RBL’s Welfare Fund, which is used to give help and support to serving and ex-service personnel and their families.
If you or someone you know needs help from the RBL, please contact the national helpline on 0808 802 8080.
The RBL has a drop-in centre at 60 Union Street, Bristol, where people can call in for advice and information on the charity’s support and community services.
The Stoke Gifford branch has raised £50,000 for the Poppy Appeal in each of the last two years. It is always looking for volunteers for its work; if you are interested, please contact John Moloney on 07802 535591.
More information: Stoke Gifford RBL on Facebook
• More photos on Facebook and Flickr
Local Remembrance parades and ceremonies
- Bradley Stoke: Sunday 12th November – Parade from the Jubilee Centre at 10.15am. Ceremony in the town square at 10.45am.
- Stoke Gifford: Sunday 12th November – Ceremony at the cenotaph, North Road at 10.15pm followed by services at St Michael’s Church and Rock Lane Baptist Church at 11am.
- Patchway: Sunday 19th November – Parade from the car park near Coniston Medical Practice at 10.30am sharp, followed by a Remembrance service at the war memorial in Scott Park.
Armistice Day commemorations at 11am on 11th November
Short ceremonies organised by the Stoke Gifford Royal British Legion, with the Exhortation, Last Post, Two Minute Silence, Reveille and Kohima Epitaph.
- Bradley Stoke: Willow Brook Centre (inside the mall)
- Stoke Gifford: Parkway Station and Sainsbury’s Supermarket
