Poppy shop opens in Colchester (From Essex County Standard)
Get involved: send your pictures, video, news and views by texting ECS to 80360, or email »
Poppy shop opens in Colchester
11:00am Monday 29th October 2012 in News
Poppy shop opens in Colchester
VOLUNTEERS are hoping to equal last year’s record Poppy Appeal total.
Members of the Royal British Legion opened the Poppy Shop, in Red Lion Yard, on Saturday.
Paul Thurston, who co-ordinates the Colchester collection, said it would be hard to top the £80,000 collected last year.
“Last year was the 90th anniversary of the collection and in the Poppy Appeal alone, we had about £75,000 come in,” he said.
“With the additions for the 90th, it came to about £80,000, which was a tremendous achievement.
“It will be difficult to top but I have a team of volunteers determined to do so.”
A team of between 12 and 15 volunteers will be in Colchester town centre with poppy trays during the appeal, while shoppers will also be able to buy from the larger range available at the shop, including regiment-specific poppy crosses and wreaths.
The shop is open between 9am and 4pm between Monday and Saturday and between 10am and 2pm on Sundays.
The last opening day is Saturday, November 10.
