'Poppy People Wanted' Says Local MEP

2.00.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 13th Oct 2003

Chris Huhne MEP with Norman and Betty Brown at the War Memorial in Eastleigh

Hampshire MEP Chris Huhne today appealed for volunteers to help with this year's poppy appeal in aid of ex-Service people.

Mr Huhne joined Hampshire county poppy appeal coordinator Norman Brown and Eastleigh, Chandlers Ford and district organiser Betty Brown to ask for more help with the annual collection (Picture of Mr Huhne with Norman and Betty Brown at the Eastleigh war memorial sent with this).

'The poppy appeal is about remembrance of all those who made the ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms of our country, and about recognition of those ex-Service people who deserve help. More than 300,000 people are helped each year by the money that the poppy appeal raises' said Mr Huhne.

'The services range from home visits and mobility aids for elderly veterans to retraining for people when they leave the Forces, and fighting for War pensions' said Mr Huhne.

'It is appropriate to make this appeal from Eastleigh because the Eastleigh, Chandlers Ford and District branch of the Royal British Legion raised more money last year - £34,785 - than any other Hampshire branch and more than any other time in its history' said Mr Huhne. 'In this branch alone, more than 60 volunteers gave out nearly 40,000 poppies'.

'I am particularly pleased that the Royal British Legion undertakes school visits. It is so important, as the horrors of the first and second world war recede, that we collectively remember and recognise the enormous sacrifices that were made on our behalf and which must never happen again' said Mr Huhne.

'Anyone who would like to volunteer to help collect in the poppy appeal even if only for a couple of hours is very welcome and should contact Norman or Betty Brown on 023 8025 1156 and leave a message' said Mr Huhne.

'The poppy appeal started in 1921 to commemorate the dead of the great war that had just ended, and has become a vital part of our national life' said Mr Huhne.

The origin of the poppy symbol is the poppies that grew on some of the battlefields of the great war, and which were remembered in a poem by a Canadian doctor, Colonel John McCrae. He wrote: 'If ye break faith with us who die, we shall not sleep, though poppies grow in Flanders fields'.

Further details about the poppy appeal can be found on www.poppy.org.uk.