ONCE again the people of Pershore and district have been more than generous in their support of the annual Poppy Appeal.

In 2012, they donated approximately £18,500, which is a tremendous achievement despite the current economic climate and we are most grateful.

May I take this opportunity to thank all those who have supported this year’s appeal, in particular, the Women’s Section Royal Naval Association, Pershore Town Council, Peshore Abbey clergy, Pershore Working Men’s and Old Comrades Club, suborganisers, house-to-house collectors, cadets, schools, supermarkets, shops and public houses for their continued support.

We are also indebted to Peter Hall (Handyman Services) for setting up our Garden of Remembrance and to Smart Cut for providing the turf.

I would also like to thank the church congregations, supporters of social events and those who made donations at services through out the district on Remembrance Sunday.

The Legion currently spends more than £1 million a week in its work helping over 140,000 members of the Armed Forces family – 10,000 of whom are service personnel and their families and these include recent veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts.

The remainder are made up of other dependents, veterans and the bereaved.

It is gratifying to know that the significance of the Poppy has not diminished or been forgotten.

JON BUCKLE Poppy Appeal Organiser Pershore