Remember, Remember the eleventh of November and all those who gave their tomorrows for our today.

The 2025 Poppy Appeal is now firmly underway with the Petersfield branch of the Royal British Legion (RBL) doing the honours on Thursday (November 23).

Like previous years the launch was due to take place in The Square with the mayor buying the first Poppy.

This year’s event was moved into the Town Hall because of Storm Benjamin with mayor Cllr Chris Paige joining the town crier, her consort and fellow RBL members indoors for the annual event.

Expect to see Poppy sellers on Rams Walk and throughout the town over the next fortnight.

Meanwhile, a big moment in the Petersfield Poppy Project will be reached next weekend as huge curtains of knitted and crocheted poppies will be lifted into place.

The campaign to cover the porch of St Peter’s in a cascade of poppies has exceeded expectations with nearly 20,000 being produced by knitters and well-wishers.

The bid to tie all the poppies to wirework has been equally exhausting with the results being lifted into place in and outside the church next Saturday (November 1) by firefighters and figures by Wylds Farm.

“The porch framework, Chancel Poppy fall and the ribbons are almost complete but we still have the entrance columns to finish,” said joint project co-ordinator Christine Rushton.

“We will be working inside the church on Thursday and Friday, October 30 and 31, and everyone is welcome to come and see the project coming to fruition.

“It has been a complete Petersfield community effort with all the tying on and stapling and so many people are helping with the project.”

The poppies will also be blessed by Petersfield vicar Rev Will Hughes during a 9.30am service on Sunday, November 2.