Poignancy as Poppy Appeal launched

The annual Poppy Appeal was launched in Leeds yesterday in front of hundreds of people with the hope of raising tens of thousands of pounds.

By The Newsroom

Published 29th Oct 2011, 07:00 BST

Russ Murray, South and West Yorkshire county manager, of the Royal British Legion, was at the Civic Hall as the parade got under way before moving on to The Light shopping precinct.

The first poppy of the year was presented to Maureen Bland, mother of serviceman Wayne Bland, who died in Afghanistan in 2008. A second went to Sarah Butler of Queen Alexander’s Royal Naval Nursing Service and the third to 90-year-old Connie Willams – a wartime corporal in the Women’s Royal Air Force.

Mr Murray said: “This ceremony started the Poppy Appeal 2011 and again this was the time for the people of South and West Yorkshire to remember the sacrifices and service of all service persons past and present.”

Comment: Page 14.