There’s more to the Legion than poppies once a year ...

Jan 31 2009 by Katie Campling, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

MOST people remember the Poppy Appeal only when boxes full of red paper flowers appear in November.

But behind-the-scenes at the Royal British Legion, work is not limited to Remembrance Sunday. Volunteers spend months ensuring boxes of poppies are displayed and the funds collected in.

Funds from the 2008 Poppy Appeal have now all been gathered – totalling £1m.

This money goes to help current and former Armed Forces personnel in need.

Around £2,365 of the £1m total was collected by the Golcar RBL branch – and because of the short supply of volunteers, the majority of this was handled by one volunteer, Colin Atkinson.

Mr Atkinson, 60, who helps at Golcar Royal British Legion branch, handled 50 poppy collection boxes for the 2008 appeal.

Generally, volunteers should only have to handle around five or six each.

The volunteer situation is becoming desperate and Poppy Appeal organisers are urging more people to help them with 2009’s collection.

Robert Walker, who organises the Poppy Appeal for Golcar RBL, said: “Most of our money was collected last time by just one man, who did about 50 boxes himself.

“We have some people helping and I am approaching community groups, but we need more on board.”

Mr Atkinson himself said the lack of volunteers puts a lot of pressure on people like himself.

“It is a lot of pressure on a few people. There’s a lot to do, it’s not just going out there with a tin.

“When you go out you have go to sell the idea to people. I don’t just go and give them a box. I ask if they want to support the appeal and explain what it is for. You can’t force people.