Daily Express

I’ll never quit, says Auschwitz survivor, 100, selling poppies

- By Gillian Crawley

A FORMER soldier who survived the Auschwitz concentrat­ion camp says he will continue selling poppies for the Royal British Legion, despite being over 100.

Ron Jones, who marked his centenary on April 30, volunteers for up to six hours a day at his local supermarke­t in Newport, South Wales.

Grandfathe­r-of-two Mr Jones has been collecting since 1981.

He served in the 1st Battalion Welsh Regiment in the Middle East but was captured in 1942 and, after nine months in Italy, was transferre­d to Auschwitz.

“I've been selling poppies for about 30 years,” he said.

“I go down to Tesco every year for a fortnight, practicall­y every day. I like to do a lot for the Legion as we help dependants and boys coming back from Afghanista­n.

“I've made as much as £15,000 but normally we get up to £9,000 to £10,000.”

Asked if he would ever retire, Mr Jones, who has become a local celebrity, replied: “No”.

Customers come in each year looking for him, with one woman driving from London to buy a poppy from him.

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