Mayor launches new Poppy Appeal with first donation (£10)

MAYOR Kellie Hinton launched this year’s Henley Poppy Appeal by making the first donation.

She gave £10 and in return was given a large fabric poppy by John Green, president of the Henley and Peppard branch of the Royal British Legion.

Councillor Hinton said the poppy was “fabulous” and “fit for a mayor”.

She was joined at the launch ceremony in Market Place on Saturday by the Mayor’s cadets, army cadet Corporal Angelika Gwiazda, 15, and air cadet Aleks Kluch, 17, who were also given poppies.

Deputy Mayor Rory Hunt made the first donation to the appeal via a card reader as they are being used by collectors for the first time this year.

The launch also included a performance by Sam Brown’s Fabulous Ukulele Band who were dressed in military and wartime-themed attire and played songs including Freight Train, Mr Sandman and It’s a Long Way to Tipperary.

Councillor Hinton said: “It was an honour to make the first donation to John Green, who is a local legend and has done a lot for the Legion over the years. This is a tradition we are really pleased to have in Henley.”

Councillor Hunt said: “The use of card readers is a really good initiative given the lack of cash and will lead to more donations.”

He said the appeal was especially important to him.

“I come from a military family,” said Cllr Hunt. “My grandfather was in the RAF and my uncle served in the Navy. My other grandfather was an engineer and worked on machinery for aircraft.”

Poppies can be bought in shops, supermarkets, pubs and community centres as well as from volunteer collectors in the town centre.

This year the addition of QR codes on collection tins means that donations can also be made via mobile phone.

Other commemorative items that can be bought include paper-free poppies, wristbands, poppy lapel pins, plastic car poppies, stickers and Poppy Appeal snap bands.

Annie Arscott, co-organiser of the appeal, said: “We know Henley people are very generous an the next two weeks are very important as the appeal is one of the Royal British Legion’s key fundraising opportunities.”

There were also two wartime military vehicles in the market place, including a 1943 Jeep in an 8th army set-up, belonging to Richard Pinches, the other organiser.

He said: “The jeep had a flat battery but my friend Josh Thatcher kindly gave me a jump start. We have had a great turnout. It’s great to see Sam Brown and the ukulele band back.”

Mr Pinches said the Legion was Britain’s oldest military charity, which provided support for veterans and their families.

Elsewhere, the Oxfordshire Poppy Appeal was launched at Blenheim Palace on Friday.

Mr Green attended with the standard for the Henley and Peppard branch.

Also in attendance were three members of the Benson branch who serve on the county committee, Pete Eldridge, who is chairman, Fiona Lovesey, who is vice-chairman. and Robert Lovesey, the minuting secretary.