Yorkshire Post

Poppy man to celebrate centenary

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A ROYAL British Legion poppy collector who survived the Auschwitz concentrat­ion camp is celebratin­g his 100th birthday.

Ron Jones is marking his centenary on April 30. Mr Jones, from Bassaleg, Newport, South Wales, has been collecting for the Royal British Legion poppy appeal for more than 30 years.

He was a prisoner of war in the Nazi death camp while serving in the 1st Battalion of the Welch Regiment during the Second World War.

He was captured in 1943 in the Middle East and, after nine months in Italy, was transferre­d to forced labour camp E715 – part of the Auschwitz complex.

Mr Jones has been a familiar face in Newport during the buildup to Remembranc­e Sunday, selling poppies at Tesco on the Harlech Retail Park.

Lynne Woodyatt, community fundraiser for The Royal British Legion, said: “Ron is one of our oldest poppy collectors and one that we hold in very high regard.”

Mr Jones said: “I’ve been collecting for the Poppy Appeal for more than 30 years.

“It’s not just about rememberin­g my generation; the Legion is here for all generation­s of the armed forces community, and it’s important to remember there’s a new generation that needs your support.”

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