PETERSFIELD Poppy Appeal organisers are urging everyone to make sure they don’t miss out on a poppy.

In 2016 the money from selling poppies in the town and surrounding villages contributed significantly to the £27,500 collected for the appeal by the Petersfield branch of the Royal British Legion (RBL).

Petersfield RBL Poppy Appeal co-ordinator Jeff Williams said: “It all goes to servicemen, ex-Servicemen, or their families and relatives, who are struggling or in need, either medically or in their day to day life.”

Jeff is also appealing to former military personnel to help out selling poppies in the town for a week from Saturday, November 4.

He said: “Due to one thing and another, we haven’t got as many street sellers as we have had in previous years, so we are appealing to any ex-Services people out there who could give a hand selling poppies in the town to get in touch – they may even want to join Petersfield Royal British Legion as well.”

In readiness for the annual fundraising drive, volunteers have been preparing collecting tins and poppy trays in a garage behind Wetherspoons Red Lion pub in College Street.

As well as the street collector’s kits, hundreds of poppy boxes have been assembled for shops, businesses and pubs in Petersfield, Buriton, East Meon, Froxfield, Privett, Sheet, Steep and Stroud.

They will be delivered for the appeal launch on Saturday, October 28; two days before then the RBL move their Poppy Appeal headquarters to Petersfield Bowling and Snooker Club in St Peter’s Road.

Jeff said: “It’s handy for the town centre, so it’s easy to replenish street vendors poppy trays.”

The appeal continues until Armistice Day, Saturday, November 11 – Remembrance Sunday is the next day.

The poppy became the symbol of remembrance after Canadian doctor Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, was inspired during the First World War by poppies in the battlefields to write the poem In Flanders Fields.

For information about the appeal, or joining Petersfield Royal British Legion, call Jeff Williams on 07849 195702, or branch chairman Clive Lewis on 07787 826440.