Southport Royal British Legion has launched its annual Poppy Appeal.
Mayor of Sefton, Cllr June Burns and Southport RBL President, Cllr Clare Carragher and local cadets were among guests of honours at the launch, which took place at Southport Town Hall on Saturday (28th October 2023).
The charity now has outlets – Poppy Appeal Community Hub – throughout the town. People can purchase their poppies, and other Royal British Legion items, ahead of Remembrance Day on Saturday 11th November 2023 and the Remembrance Sunday parade and service on Sunday 12th November 2023.
A Remembrance Dinner will be held at The Masonic Hall in Southport on Saturday 18th November 2023 with tickets available here.
The Legion is inviting volunteers to support their fundraising drive this year. People don’t need to have a military connection to get involved.
Southport Royal British Legion Chair Major Nick McEntee TD VR REME said:
“This year we are doing things slightly differently!
“We are operating Poppy Appeal Community Hubs. Central locations across the Southport area, where you can go and buy your poppy.
“There will be a Poppy Hub near you.
“We are one of the only branches in the UK to be selling only plastic free poppies.”
The launch of the 2023 Southport Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal. Photo by Patrick Trollope Southport Reporter
The list is:
Banks
Co-op Supermarket, Hoole Lane, PR9 8BD.
Birkdale
Spar Convenience Store, Liverpool Road, PR8 4AG.
One-Stop Convenience store, Bispham Road, PR9 7BD.
Churchtown
Spar convenience store, Cambridge Road, PR9 9RZ
Hesketh Park
Morrisons/ McColls, Queens Road, Southport.
Kew
Spar, Ovington Drive, PR8 6 JW.
Marshside
Co-Op supermarket, Fylde Road.
Ainsdale
Co-Op supermarket Station Road ,PR8 8 HR
Southport town centre
War Memorial, Lord Street. There is a regular stand set up.
Asda, Central 12 Retail Park.
Marks & Spencer, Chapel Street.
Sainsburys, Lord Street .
Southport Railway Station.
Southport Market – during the weekends.
You can also pop into the Southport Royal British Legion Poppy Shop on Wesley Street which is open during the run-up to Remembranceweekend Monday to Saturday 10am to midday.
Volunteers are being invited to give some time to support the appeal in Southport this year.
Every poppy shows you care about the lives of our Armed Forces community.
Without volunteers, members of the public and other partners, the Royal British Legion wouldn’t be able to continue supporting serving and ex-serving men and women, and their families.
Mayor of Sefton Cllr June Burns at the launch of the 2023 Southport Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal. Photo by Patrick Trollope Southport Reporter
Locally, the Southport branch of the Royal British Legion runs The Armed Forces Community Hub on Wesley Street in Southport town centre.
Poppy Appeal collectors will be distributing poppies at locations in Southport and across the United Kingdom over the next few weeks, so please do look out for them and get your poppy from sellers in your local community.
Southport Royal British Legion Secretary Sarah McEntee said:
“We really need help from more volunteers this year. People who help us don’t need to have been in the military or even have any military connections, just a desire to support the fundraising work that we do.
“We were delighted to welcome Princess Anne recently to officially re-dedicate Southport War Memorial to commemorate its centenary.
“This year, for the first time, people will be able to obtain the new environmentally-friendly, plastic-free poppies.
“Our cadets will be out and about in Southport selling poppies over the next few weeks, please look out for them.
“We have lots planned and are keen to see more volunteers come and support us.
“If you are interested in finding out more please call into our Hub or email us at: Southport.Secretary@rbl.community
“This year we have an informal Remembrance Day service at Southport War Memorial on Saturday, 11th November 2023, and then will be hosting our annual Remembrance Sunday service and parade on Sunday, 12th November 2023.
“We are also hosting a Remembrance Dinner at the Masonic Hall on Duke Street in Southport on Saturday 18th November.
“Please get in touch if you’d like more details about any of these events.”
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