Troops from the Royal Navy, the Army and the Royal Air Force have joined veterans, cadets and a legion of volunteers to take part in The Royal British Legion’s London Poppy Day today (Thu 29 Oct).
Thousands of collectors have covered the capital; bringing a smile to the faces of Half Term visitors and commuters despite the rotten weather. Their aim is ambitious: to raise a million pounds in a day for the Poppy Appeal.
The troops collected donations from commuters, tourists and workers in mainline stations, Underground stations and the surrounding streets. Military Bands from all three services set the fundraising efforts to music. MPs, Lords and Celebrities have joined in to add weight to their efforts. The RAF entertained shoppers in Covent Garden with the Squadronaires and a Spitfire Plane. And East End legend, actress Barbara Windsor took the poppy train with troops on the Circle Line from Westminster to Gt Portland St.
London Poppy Day, in its tenth year, is the country’s largest one-day street collection event, raising money to fund the Legion’s work supporting military personnel, veterans and their families. In 2014, troops and volunteer collectors last year raised £1.25m in the one day marathon appeal.
