Jersey’s Royal British Legion is officially launching its Centenary Poppy Appeal 2022 at the annual Field of Remembrance ceremony.
The Ceremony will take place on Friday 28th October at 1pm at the Cenotaph, the Parade. The Ceremony will be attended by His Excellency Vice Admiral Jerry Kyd.
Wooden crosses to commemorate all those who served their country will be planted at the Cenotaph by members of Royal British Legion (RBL) and Island dignitaries. Crosses will be available at the ceremony for a small donation.
Following the ceremony, the President of the Jersey Branch of the Legion, Lieutenant Colonel Charles Woodrow, and the Chairman of the Jersey Branch, Lieutenant Colonel Tim Daniels, will accompany His Excellency to meet volunteers at the pop-up Poppy Shop at 26 Halkett Place.
A range of Poppy Appeal merchandise will be available to buy at the shop, as well as RBL branded items commemorating the centenary. The familiar metal badges will be available and this this year – they highlight the service of the RBL in supporting service personnel and their families over the past century. The badges will also be available at all Parish Halls.
Also for sale are many locally made items, including scented candles, notelets, decorative food covers, soap and a beautiful quilted poppy coverlet. A particular treat for gentlemen is a shaving soap quite possibly of the same recipe as that used by Battle of Jersey hero Major Peirson.
Additionally, this year the Jersey Branch of the Royal British Legion are delighted to welcome the Chelsea Pensioners back to the Island who will be stationed outside M&S in King Street and will have a full programme in support of island-wide fundraising for the Poppy Appeal.
Islanders are once again encouraged to donate by scanning the QR codes on the Poppy Appeal tins and boxes. Donations may also be made online.
Alison Opfermann, Poppy Appeal organiser, calls attention to the special nature of this year’s appeal: “The Royal British Legion has been supporting the armed forces and their families for 100 years in Jersey – even during the Occupation.
“We are proud to celebrate the fact that we have made countless lives better during that time and lived up to our motto ‘Service Not Self’. But our work continues, so please give whatever you can. Buy a poppy, visit the poppy shop, or come and talk to Chelsea Pensioner. It’s a simple way to show our gratitude for the service and sacrifice of our military.”
Tim Daniels, Chairman of The Royal British Legion, Jersey said: “In this the centenary year of the Jersey Branch of the Royal British Legion we remember those who fought in the two World Wars of the last century, but also those involved in the many conflicts since 1945 and those still fighting for the freedom we enjoy today.
“We have always looked after our comrades and their dependents and the Funds we will raise directly help those Jersey Veterans and their families with mental, physical and financial issues which they may be struggling with and perpetuates the compassion first shown by our community in the shadow of the Great War.”
