Poppy volunteers hit by outbreak

THE Poppy Appeal in Hinckley is in desperate need of volunteers as many of the usual helpers are shielding because of the coronavirus outbreak.

Organisers have only just had approval from head office for the fund-raiser by The Royal British Legion to go ahead later this month, and many of the ex-military personnel who usually operate the stalls are staying at home because of Covid-19 .

David Perry, who served in the

Royal Air Force for 22 years, said: “The last few years, we have raised over £40,000 a year. It’s fantastic, we can’t say thank you enough to the people of Hinckley and what they have done and the support.

“It’s the one charity people have no trouble in supporting.”

Volunteers will be provided with PPE and gloves.

Mr Perry said: “You are behind a table, so you have a good metre. I feel completely happy - I’m in my 70s and I feel safe doing it.

“The more people we can get, the less we have to ask people to do double stints.”

The poppy appeal is starting on October 22 and lasts for three weeks, with the stalls to be run in the town at the Britannia Centre, Morrisons, Lidl and the Aldi on Holliers Walk.

Volunteers are needed to do two-hour shifts at the tables, between 9am and 5pm.

The Remembrance Sunday service which is usually attended by several thousand people in the Garden of Remembrance in Argents Mead, will this year be a smaller, virtual service, to be broadcast on social media, so members of the public can properly and safely honour those who gave their lives in the war effort.

The parade will not take place. If you would like to volunteer, call 01455 640505 or 07776 388771.