THE familiar sight of red poppies will soon be returning to shops, businesses and lamp posts across Lymm as preparations get underway for the 2026 Poppy Appeal.
Poppy boxes will shortly be appearing in village retailers, hotels, bars, restaurants, churches, schools and supermarkets, while, thanks to the Parish Council, the large red poppies will once again adorn lamp posts throughout the community.
Remembrance remains a special time of year when people across faiths, cultures and backgrounds come together to remember those who have served – and continue to serve – in the Armed Forces.
It is also a time to remember those who sadly never returned home to their families and friends.
The appeal organisers are once again urging residents to wear their Poppy with pride and support the Royal British Legion’s vital work.
The Poppy remains the enduring symbol of Remembrance, inspired by the red flowers which grew across the battlefields of Flanders following the devastation of the First World War.
It represents not only remembrance, but also respect and hope for a more peaceful future.
The generosity of local residents has already made a significant difference.
Last year, the Lymm and High Legh community raised more than £19,500 for the Poppy Appeal – an impressive total which demonstrated the strength of local support for the Armed Forces community.
Money raised through the appeal enables the Royal British Legion to provide a wide range of support to wounded service personnel, veterans and their families.
That support can include grants for essentials such as food and clothing, helping ensure members of the Armed Forces community do not have to go hungry or cold.
The charity also supports families living with dementia through Admiral Nurses, while more than 10 per cent of grants last year went towards improving independence through mobility equipment and adaptations for disabled veterans and family members.
The Royal British Legion’s care homes provide support for hundreds of people, either as residents or through day care, while funding also helps rehabilitation centres and the Battle Back Centre.
A £3,000 contribution, for example, can provide a veteran with the support needed to regain independence through a multi-activity recovery course.
The Poppy Appeal also helps enable serving personnel and veterans to train and participate in the Invictus Games.
Every donation makes a difference
With cash increasingly being used less frequently, residents are being reminded that there are other ways to donate.
All Poppy collection tins feature QR codes, allowing people to make a donation directly using their mobile phones.
Residents are being encouraged to give generously when they see Poppy boxes around the community, or when they meet the dedicated volunteers collecting at the two Sainsbury’s stores and at the Truck Stop.
There is also an opportunity to sponsor one of the large lamp-post poppies in remembrance of a loved one, or in honour of those who serve and have served their country.
Anyone wishing to sponsor a lamp-post poppy can contact jwmeldrum@btinternet.com
The appeal organisers are hoping that the people of Lymm and High Legh will once again demonstrate their generosity and ensure that the community’s proud tradition of supporting the Poppy Appeal continues.
For more information about the work of the Royal British Legion, visit [the Royal British Legion website www.britishlegion.org.uk
