The Saturdays and Union J get Poppy Appeal under way with two-hour gig

The stars performed a two-hour gig in a huge aircraft hangar at RAF Northolt in west London for thousands of loved ones of servicemen and women.

Organised by the Royal British Legion, Poppy Appeal 2013 aims to raise £37m, and this year its focus is the families of Army, Royal Air Force and Navy personnel.

Every poppy helps towards raising the £1.6m needed by the Legion each week to deliver practical help and advice to the armed forces community. Crisis grants, family breaks, benefits and money advice and inquest advice are among the support provided by the RBL.

TV personality Gethin Jones hosted the concert, which also included performances from Tich, Britain’s Got Talent finalists Luminites and The Poppy Girls, who sang the official appeal single, The Call (No Need to Say Goodbye).

George Shelley from Union J said: “It was amazing to launch the Poppy Appeal this year. The poppy means a lot to us; it’s a symbol of pride.

“I have a brother serving in the Royal Marines, Josh’s dad was in the Navy for ten years and Jaymi’s uncle was in the RAF and fought in the Falklands War.

“We think of them, and all 
the others who have bravely served, every time we put a poppy on.”

Charles Byrne, the Royal British Legion’s director of fundraising, said: “We support the entire Armed Forces community past and present, but families are at the heart of the Poppy Appeal in 2013.

“We recognise the strength 
of mothers, fathers, partners 
and kids in Armed Forces families.

“We’re encouraging people to dig deep for the Poppy Appeal, so we can continue providing this vital support to individuals whether they’re still serving, transitioning back to civilian life or have left the Services, but importantly to their dependants too.”