THIS year’s Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal is to be launched nationally on Thursday, October 22. Locally, The Garden of Remembrance will be dedicated at Crediton Parish Church on Saturday, October 24, at 10.55am by the main gate. Please respect the government guidance on social distancing should you attend.

Like so many things this year, the Poppy Appeal has had to adapt. Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, the Legion is working with its members, staff, volunteers and partners to create a range of ways for people to get a poppy and show their support in 2020.

Every year our volunteers cover as many areas as possible, collecting on the streets, in shopping centres and at stations.

However, this year, as a result of Covid-19, many of our volunteers are understandably unable to assist, and reduced footfall in these areas means that our Poppy Appeal income is at real risk.

Although volunteers and stock may be limited this year we will endeavour to have poppies available in as many places as possible as usual in the town and surrounding villages.

However, there will be no house-to-house or street collections this year or a manned table at Tesco Wellparks but there will be additional collecting points at the supermarket.

Arrangements for Morrisons have yet to be confirmed. Wreaths for organisations have been ordered as usual and will be collected/distributed as per previous year’s.

We want to make sure that you are also able to participate in this year’s Poppy Appeal from your own home to doing your own fundraising with family and friends, for more information go to: rbl.org.uk/poppyappeal . Poppy posters are available online for printing and display and blank ones available for children to colour.

The Town Council has decided that there will be no ceremony at the War Memorial on Remembrance Sunday, November 8. For details on wreath laying please contact Lisa Blake on: [email protected] or on 01363 773717. For the church service contact: [email protected] .

Every poppy makes a difference to the lives of our Armed Forces community - past, present and future. We’re calling on the public to support us like never before, because every poppy counts.

Jane Sansom

Royal British Legion

Crediton Poppy Appeal Organiser