The Poppy Appeal in Stamford

We need and use every penny we can get to carry out our welfare objectives; fundraising is therefore a primary function of the Legion and why we need to exert all our efforts during each Poppy Appeal. This includes running the annual Poppy Appeal in Stamford. The two-week Poppy period also encompasses 'Remembrance', culminating in the Two-Minute Silence at 11am on 11 November, Armistice Day.

Poppy Appeal 2024/2025
Stamford`s Poppy Appeal will launch on Monday 28th October 2024 

The Garden of Remembrance will open on Friday 1st November at 11am

STAMFORD BRANCH POPPY APPEAL 2023-2024

I was really astounded with the generosity of those who supported once more the Poppy Appeal that began October 1st 2023 and included last November’s Appeal. Once again I must thank all those very generous people of Stamford and surrounding villages who live, work and shop in Stamford. I have received notification from Headquarters and Stamford has now raised £54,458.30. This is incredible as it is £6,000 more than last year’s total.

Morrisons, Waitrose and Sainsbury’s Supermarkets who allow us a stall for the two weeks, were very helpful once more and I thank them for all they did. I also want to thank all my volunteers who gave their time to look after the stalls in whichever Supermarket they volunteered for. Those who did extra when we were short on the rota and those who are happy to do more than a couple of shifts. We also had donations from Ryhall Village,Great Casterton and Easton on the Hill.

My thanks to my Deputy Peter Wharam for setting up the Morrison’s stall at 6am and when relieved at 7.45 am then going to set up the Sainsbury stall and closing it in the evening. My thanks also to Clive and June Green for closing the Morrison’s stall every night.

We were allowed once more, three contactless machines this year one for each Supermarket and these were as follows

Morrison’s Cash £10,459.87 & Contactless donations £6,496.00

Total £16,955.87

Waitrose Cash £6,892.90 & Contactless donations £7417.00

Total £14,309.90

Sainsbury’s Cash £7,733.70 & Contactless donations £3532.50

Total £8,842.58

The three card readers together totalled £17,765.00

Schools. All Stamford schools as well as Uffington Primary, Copthill School, Ryhall Primary and Great Casterton Primary and Great Casterton College took part this year. Malcolm Sargent School raised an incredible £719.15 and St. George’s School £386.28. The Schools totalled £3,009.75

Thank you to Frankie Rae who raised over £3,200 with her red and purple knitted poppies that were available in all three Supermarkets, also to Linda Mills for her donation of £197.29 from the sale of knitted poppies.

To Karina Thorne and Pat McCaig for their very popular clip on Poppies raising £2,500. The hours you all spend during the year making and donating knitted and clip on poppies is very much appreciated.

To Maria Jackson, Chris and Ian Pybus, and Alan Mumford, who counted the cash and the staff at Lloyds Bank Stamford for all they did.

To the Station Commander at RAF Wittering for allowing the Base personnel to help once more. To Cpl Tom Brodie and personnel from 3 Mobile Catering Squadron RAF and Royal Engineers from 20 Works Group and 12 Engineer Group for your help in the Supermarkets.

I thank you all very much once again.

We had awards to give out this year and some of these were presented at our Branch Social Evening by our Stamford Branch President Councillor David Wilby on Monday 18th March.

5 year awards go to Roy and Heather Stafford, Maisie Jarvis, Caroline Jenkinson, Terry Meader, Sara Ford, Dawn Barrett, Linda Battle and Tracy Arden

10 year awards go to Linda Baron, Nigel Barrett, Morag Roberts, Maria Jackson, David Thompson , Martin Vines, Peter Wharam Terri Cusack, June Green, Andy Headley, Ivan Graham

15 year awards go to John Curtis, Frankie and Bob Rae

20 year award goes to Dave Young

40 year award goes to Cate Goodwin.

I must also thank Steve Bonde who designed and printed free of charge the certificates to those who raised over £100, the appreciation certificates and for his many hours spent at Waitrose.

THANK YOU ALL ONCE AGAIN

Jim Jackson (Poppy Appeal Organiser)

Poppy People

There is literally a fund of goodwill in Stamford to be tapped but we need help to collect it. We concentrate our efforts now on collecting in the supermarkets which are of course dry, Here you can not only contribute to a wonderful cause, but also meet all your friends as they pass by, and listen as people tell you stories of their or their parents experiences of WWII or military service.

So, if you can spare a couple of hours, do please   contact our Branch Secretary. We need all kind of   volunteers - door-to-door collectors, street   collectors, and especially collectors in supermarkets.   Always remember - the next welfare case to call   The  Royal British Legion might be yours.

Each year the Legion's Poppy Factory produces over 30 million

Poppies, thousands of Wreaths and Remembrance Crosses. The increasing demand each year reflects the overwhelming public support for the Poppy Appeal. The two-week Poppy period also encompasses 'Remembrance', culminating in the Two-Minute Silence at 11am on 11 November, Armistice Day.

Poppy Appeal Party
Each year, after all the rigours of the Poppy Appeal, Stamford Branch organises a Poppy Appeal Party as a ‘Thank you’ to all their collectors for all their efforts and, hopefully, another successful Poppy Appeal. The most important part of the Party is the presentation of Branch Poppy Appeal Certificates to those helpers who have gone that extra mile that year – individuals and groups, shops, schools, pubs, businesses etc who have each collected more than £100 for the Branch Poppy Appeal.

Peterborough 5 x 5 Challenge

 Peterborough 5 x 5 Challenge are a group of   seven retired runners, cyclists and swimmers   who get together to raise funds for charity. In   2013 and 2014 they chose the Poppy Appeal in   Stamford to receive the majority of the funds   they raised. Their first event was a   ‘Remembrance’ 11km off-road race at Top Lodge near Stamford on 10 November 2013, during which they raised £1700. The following year they raised even more – well over £3000 for the Poppy Appeal.

Here, Terry Murphy, their Challenge Organiser, and a colleague present their cheque for £3000 at the Branch Poppy Appeal Party afterwards.

Clare Morley

We introduce you all to Clare Morley. Over the past three years Clare has run  four major national Marathons, including the London, the Great Northern Run  and the Manchester during which she has raised over £5,500 for the Royal British Legion, including the Poppy Appeal in Stamford. Clare also helps with the Stamford Poppy Appeal in Waitrose along with her friend Helen

Thank you Clare for all that you do. It is very much appreciated!

Stamford Sewing Centre

The Deputy Mayor of Stamford, Breda-Rae  Griffin presents a Certificate to Linda Mills of the Stamford sewing Centre for raising £716.29.