Sellers’ pride as poppy sales bloom

THIS proud squad of poppy sellers believe this year’s tour of duty in Swansea has been the best yet.

The veterans have been at their post at the entrance to Swansea Market from Monday to Saturday for the past five weeks, selling poppies for the Royal British Legion.

Tom Simmonds, an 88-year-old former Army drill instructor from Townhill, said: “It’s been excellent this year, if we don’t break all records this year we never will. The people have been brilliant. It’s all thanks to the generosity of the people of Swansea, the support has been extraordinary, and the four men I have had alongside of me; we’ve been here every day for the past 22 days. It’s been a lot of work, from 8am to 2pm; the youngest man is 75.

“So far we have filled 112 boxes and they average between £150 to £200 a box.

“A chap came in last week in a wheelchair and handed me a collection box which I could just about lift up and then he opened his wallet and gave us £50 of his own money. Another lady had knitted some poppies and gave us £70 she had made through selling them.”

Fred Edwards, a 79year-old former Royal Welch Fusilier, added: “We collected £107,000 in Swansea last year and we will more than likely better that this year, the response has been tremendous.”

Also helping out were Peter Williams, Clive Prior and Peter Mears, along with 95-year-old Clifford Guard.