Poppy organiser fears Halloween event clash

A HALLOWEEN event in Henley will start later in the day after it clashed with this year’s Poppy Appeal launch.

Terror on the Thames is a community event organised by resident Philippa Ratcliffe which is designed to support businesses and raise money for local charities.

This was due to take place in the town centre from 11am to 4pm on Saturday, October 26.

But Richard Pinches told a meeting of the town council’s events sub-committee on Tuesday last week that he was concerned that the event would affect the launch of the Poppy Appeal.

Mr Pinches, who organises the annual collection, said his event would take place in Market Place and start sometime in the morning until about 2pm.

He said: “It is the same the day as the poppy launch, which normally fizzles out by about 2pm and Phillippa’s first event is scheduled for 11am.”

Henley Mayor Rory Hunt said the appeal should take precedence over the Halloween event. He said: “The poppy appeal should get first dibs on anything they need, and Philippa can work around that.”

Daisy Smith, communications manager for the town council, said it had been agreed that Ms Ratcliffe would come back with timings for her events.

Nicci Taylor, who is the markets and events manager, added that it had already been agreed that the appeal could use Market Place in the morning and the Halloween event could only start once that was over.

The sub-committee agreed to remind Ms Ratcliffe of the decision.

Meanwhile, HoT WI is planning to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day next year. The branch wants to create three “swags”, or wrapped cloth, to link together the four trees in front of Bijans kitchen in Market Place.

These will be made out of wool and be covered in poppies. The central swag will read “VE Day 80”.

Alison Engleby, 64, from Henley, is part of the team which makes decorative post-box toppers around the town centre.

She told the meeting: “We had an idea, which I know is far in advance, but we have to work in advance and we have got to get contributions for rope and other materials.”

Councillor Sarah Miller, who chairs the committee, replied: “I know that VE Day next year is something that, as a council, we will be very involved with.”

May 8, 1945 was known as Victory in Europe Day, or VE Day, which officially marked the end of the conflict following the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany to the Allies.