The Poppyscotland Blog

This week the last known surviving service member of World War I, Florence Green from Norfolk, passed away aged 110.  In 1918, aged just 17, Florence joined the Women’s Royal Air Force and worked as a mess steward at two RAF stations.

Her death, coming less than a year after that of British-born Claude Choules, the world’s last known combat veteran of World War I, means we can no longer engage with and hear at first-hand the accounts of those who were part of the Armed Forces during one of the most devastating conflicts in history. Florence didn’t serve at the ‘sharp end’ of the Forces, but she was part of the wider Armed Forces’ effort.  She was a witness to a period of huge upheaval, uncertainty and for many, tragedy, a terrible mix of waste and sorrow, yet often achievement too.  We all tend to witness the noble and ignoble aspects of human nature at points during our lives, but her generation – and that of the Second World War – perhaps did so more widely and starkly than  most in succeeding generations.

One of our most important historic chapters has closed with the passing of a remarkable generation of people with fascinating stories to tell. The poppy ensures that they won’t be forgotten. Our organisation was created to provide practical support to those damaged in body and mind by their wartime service and to desperate and destitute families of the dead and wounded. Almost a full century on since the outbreak of World War I, lives are still being destroyed by war; and our work continues unchecked. The numbers we seek to help today may not, thankfully, be on the scale of the First World War, but that doesn’t make things any easier for those affected. There have been many conflicts since the World Wars – too many to list –  but each one has made a mark on history, as well on as the lives of those who fought and their families.  We have been there throughout.  We will continue to be there for as long as we are needed.

As well as the practical support we provide, a big part of our work is educating Scotland’s young people about remembrance. In 2008 we launched an education project, Sowing the Poppy Seed, to help school pupils understand and learn about remembrance. Up until then, some schools had carried out lessons on remembrance but it was not part of the curriculum; awareness varied very greatly from school to school. A survey carried out by The Royal British Legion in 2006 showed that many young people in Scotland were confused about the history behind Remembrance traditions, with 75% having no idea what the abbreviation ‘VE Day’ stood for.

Over the past four years every school in Scotland has been given access to Sowing the Poppy Seed. Learning materials have been produced with an emphasis on online content to make the project comprehensive, accessible and engaging for teachers and pupils. It has been received with much enthusiasm and the feedback from schools has been extremely positive.

We are the beginning of a long journey to ensure that future generations will understand and remember, now that the Great War generation has finally passed in full. We must instil a belief in the importance of remembrance amongst Scotland’s school pupils so that when they reach adulthood they pass it on to future generations, ensuring that people like Florence, with their memories and stories, are never forgotten.  It’s a vital task, one we are very privileged to undertake.

The close of 2011 is all but upon us.  It’s hard to resist looking back at the last year’s events, but harder still to avoid spouting platitudes about them.  So, with that in mind I’ll abjectly apologise for offering one straight away: 2011 has been a remarkable year for Poppyscotland.  It really has.

The year saw the 90th anniversary of the first Scottish Poppy Appeal.  That in itself was remarkable.  Remarkable too, is the fact that its purpose would be recognised as unchanged by those involved in that first 1921 Appeal, but as to how we’re trying to achieve it, I’ll simply say that’s changed just a tad.  We’re still here to help and support Scotland’s Armed Forces and veterans in the long haul, just as ever we were, but how we do that is constantly evolving in new and exciting ways.

We clocked up some notable successes during 2011.  In March we announced another record Scottish Poppy Appeal total of £2.35m.  Our Social Media profile has mushroomed, reflecting burgeoning public interest in our work and in veterans’ welfare generally.  This hasn’t gone unrecognised either.  Our Marketing and Social Media work was nominated for awards by SCVO and the Herald Digital Awards.  We were awarded a Gold Star at Scottish Marketing Society Awards in May and received a commendation earlier this month at the Social Buzz Awards.  Our show garden swept the board, winning four awards, including a Gold Medal and Best in Show at the Gardening Scotland festival in June.  We benefited from too, from a whole variety of engaging fundraising events, ranging from our Hearts and Heroes Challenge in May to the St Andrew Sporting Club Boxing event last month.

June was pretty important.  That month we successfully concluded merger negotiations with The Royal British Legion (RBL) in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and joined the RBL group of charities.  This has been a huge breakthrough.  It’s not only given us an enhanced voice in the veterans’ welfare debate, it’s also bringing new investment to enable us to do more and better for those we serve.  The benefits of this have been quickly apparent.  The RBL was this year instrumental in persuading the Government to enshrine the Armed Forces Covenant in UK law.  In addition, initial additional investment by RBL in our fundraising enabled us to stage our Small Remembrance Cross initiative this November.  Not only did this give the public the opportunity to commemorate their loved ones in a newly-established Field of Remembrance in Princes Street, Edinburgh, expanding and enhancing the existing Garden of Remembrance in close collaboration with the Royal British Legion Scotland, it has also to date raised a total of £240K in new donation income.  We can moreover, also now call on RBL research resources and expertise hitherto well beyond our reach.

I could write a lot more about what we’ve done, but what about what you’ve done in 2011?  Well, for starters, the record Scottish Poppy Appeal total is really down to you, not us, and for all your support, commitment and generosity, we are immensely grateful.  You also, by the way, managed quite a few other good things.  You helped over 1300 veterans and their families with grants to assist them through difficulties.  You provided funding to 15 veterans’ organisations, totalling £1.8m, financing projects ranging from housing for disabled veterans to horses for equine therapy for severely injured serving personnel and veterans.  You got the Armed Services Advice Project off to a stunning first year which brought financial benefits of over £400K to veterans in need.  That’s twice what it costs to run, a pretty good return in terms of practical help given.  Again, I could go on – my point is that our achievements are really yours and, well…….you’ve done really not badly, haven’t you?

I’d like there to be no need for Poppyscotland.  I guess people felt the same in 1921 and hoped the Scottish Poppy Appeal wouldn’t still be taking place 90 years later.  Sadly, there remains that need and it’s not going to go away.  We’ve a job to do, for the long, long haul, and we need to have many more years like 2011 to meet that need.  For us, it’s been a year to look back on with satisfaction, even though we don’t yet know how much this year’s Poppy Appeal has brought in.  What we do know is that we can’t be complacent.  We have to raise our game again next year.  That could be seen as a daunting prospect, given that times are tight for many people.  However, with supporters, volunteers, donors and friends like you, it should be possible.  For that and for all you do for Scotland’s Armed Forces and Veterans Community, thank you very much indeed.  I wish you a very safe and prosperous 2012.

Ian McGregor
Chief Executive, Poppyscotland

Today, Claire Williams, Project Co-ordinator for the Armed Services Advice Project (ASAP), offers expert advice to veterans and their families who may be struggling with finances this Christmas.

ASAP, funded by Poppyscotland and six other Armed Forces support organisations, offers free and confidential advice to serving and ex-Service people and their families living in Scotland. Advice is delivered through Citizens Advice Bureaux in Scotland and is staffed by people who understand the needs of the Armed Forces and veterans’ community and how to access specific help. Advisers provide help on a wide range of issues, including finances and debt.

ASAP - offering expert advice for Scotland's Armed Forces community, at Christmas and all year round

Here are ASAP’s top ten tips for a debt-free Christmas: 

1. Be realistic about what you can afford

The worst way to do Christmas shopping is at the last minute, in a panic, pushing everything onto your credit card. Start planning now – based on what you can afford – and then stick to the plan.

2. If you can afford to pay for goods in cash – without credit – do that

Don’t take out credit unless it really does work out cheaper.

3. If you are using credit, shop around for the best deal

Be wary about ‘Buy now, pay later’ offers. Are you sure you’ll have the money later? Remember – penalties for late payment can be huge.

4. Read the small print of any credit agreement closely

If anything is unclear, ASK before you sign. Then get advice from someone independent.

5. Beware of store cards

They’re often a more expensive form of credit than credit cards, many charging interest rates of around 30 per cent.

6. Don’t run up a bank overdraft without talking first to your bank

This will be much more expensive than if you agree it beforehand.

7. Remember the New Year utility bills

Gas and electricity bills often arrive in January/February, just when you’re feeling the pinch after the Christmas spend. And they’ll be higher than usual at this time of year. Allow for these in your budgeting.

8. When it does comes to paying those bills in the New Year, prioritise

Payments such as mortgage/rent, gas/electricity and council tax should always come first.

9. Have you maximised your income?

Are you claiming all the benefits you’re entitled to? There may also be support available from service related organisations to help with specific problems.

10. If you do think you’ve over-spent, get help immediately!

Don’t ignore it or hope it will go away. It won’t!  ASAP will give you free, confidential and independent advice on how to manage your debt.

We hope that these tips will help you this Christmas but if you need any advice now, or at any time of the year, ASAP can advise you on a wide range of practical issues including finances, jobs and housing. If you are serving in the Armed Forces or have served previously, or are a relative of someone who has, ASAP is here for you. Call the helpline on 0845 231 0300 or email ASAP@citizensadvicedirect.org.uk

ASAP is provided by the Scottish Citizens Advice Bureau Service, and is funded by: Poppyscotland, Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund, The Maritime Charities Funding Group, ABF the Soldiers’ Charity, Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association Forces Help (SSAFA Forces Help), The Robertson Trust and Turn2us.

Following the very moving Remembrance Sunday events across the country yesterday, the 2011 Scottish Poppy Appeal is officially over. Well, not quite. For our team of fundraisers at Poppyscotland, a critical stage in the process is only just beginning. After months of planning, followed by the delivery of an exciting and vigorous poppy campaign, which culminated in street collections across the country on Saturday, there now begins the mammoth task of counting the money. This is a process that will take weeks, even to give us an indication of how this year’s campaign compares with 2010.

Cadets joined veterans, students and supporters to collect as much money as possible for the 2011 Scottish Poppy Appeal

I was in Edinburgh and Glasgow on Poppy Saturday and met just a few of the thousands of poppy collectors who gave up their weekend to help the cause. There were school pupils in blazers, uniformed military cadets, students in fancy-dress holding a ‘rag-raid’ competition, veterans with medals and supporters of all ages and from all manner of backgrounds – all with the shared aim of collecting as much as possible for the 2011 Scottish Poppy Appeal.

Members of the public proudly wearing their poppies

Our two retail units had prime positions in the respective cities so that people could buy items from our merchandise range, along with their poppies, and, importantly, the weather was exceptionally kind. By the end of the day a hugely encouraging number of shoppers and passers-by were wearing poppies in preparation for Remembrance Sunday. We look forward to status updates from the rest of the country but I am sure that the enthusiasm of the public and collectors that I witnessed in the central belt was repeated Scotland-wide.

Students in fancy-dress take part in a poppy rag-raid competition

The 2010 Scottish Poppy Appeal was a record-breaking success and everyone at Poppyscotland hopes that we will exceed last year’s £2.35 million so that we can provide even more support to Scotland’s veterans and their families. However, we must wait patiently. At the end of September over five million poppies were distributed to our team of 500 area organisers who, with military precision, distributed them in shops, schools and businesses, co-ordinating vast numbers of collectors in preparation for Poppy Saturday.

Over 60,000 poppy tins were on Scotland’s streets during the 2011 Appeal and each one now has to be picked up by our local co-ordinators who then organise the counting and banking of the money. When the money arrives at Poppyscotland HQ it is allocated to the area organiser’s file so we can keep a record of the total raised and then send letters and certificates of thanks and appreciation. A large portion of the income arrives by Christmas but there is a long tail to the collection process and the final figure will not be announced until the end of March.

So, while we wait, I would like to take this opportunity to extend my grateful thanks to everyone involved in the 2011 Scottish Poppy Appeal. As a result of your generosity and kindness, veterans and their families across Scotland can receive vital support that will have a hugely positive impact on their lives. Thank you very much indeed.

Ian McGregor, Chief Executive, Poppyscotland

Like thousands of other people across the country, I stood silent at 11am for two minutes to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving in the Armed Forces. Today is Armistice Day and at Poppyscotland’s head office in Edinburgh, we were joined by workers at Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory and pupils from Pinkie St Peter’s Primary School and The Mary Erskine and Stewart’s Melville Junior School. We all gathered round the flag pole in the car park and listened out for the firing of the Edinburgh Castle Gun to announce the start of the Two Minute Silence.

Crosses at the Afghanitsan plot in the Field of Remembrance at Princes Street Gardens in Edinburgh

When the Castle gun fired to mark the end of the two minutes, one of the pupils laid a wreath and another read Binyon’s Lines before a piper played Flowers of the Forest. Every year we join together to pay our respects in this way and every year it is no less of a poignant and emotional experience.

It is heartening to see the country pause and collectively share a moment to remember. In two days’ time, on Remembrance Sunday, the nation will join together again at war memorials up and down the country, to pay their respects to the Fallen.

While veterans and serving personnel prepare for remembrance services and parades at war memorials, this week has seen questions and discussions arise in the media about whether there is too much pressure to wear a poppy and is it being used as a political symbol. Poppyscotland firmly believes that wearing a poppy is matter of personal choice. Members of the British Armed Forces have fought and died for our freedom. If people choose not to wear a poppy they have the right to express their views and we completely respect that. The poppy is categorically not a political symbol. It is the national symbol of remembrance for those who died serving their country.

There is another important aspect to the poppy. As well being the symbol of remembrance, it raises vital funds for veterans today. Ninety years on, the Scottish Poppy Appeal is needed as much as ever before. An increasing number of veterans leaving the Armed Forces today have difficulty in making the adjustment from military to civilian life. Some may have suffered horrific battlefield injuries, some may struggle silently with psychological issues and, for others, the loss of the security of the Armed Forces means that dealing with everyday issues such as finances, finding suitable employment or housing becomes a completely overwhelming and isolating experience. Poppyscotland is here to help these veterans and their families, now and in the future. Once someone is part of the Armed Forces family they are always part of that family, which very much includes Poppyscotland and other Armed Forces charities.

This year, in between Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday, is Poppy Saturday. There is no ceremony to mark this day but it is no less of an important date in the Remembrance calendar. In cities, towns and villages poppy collectors will be out in force, offering the public a final opportunity to buy a poppy in 2011. Over five million poppies are made each year by veterans with disabilities at Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory. They are then distributed to 500 volunteer organisers, who ensure that their local areas are stocked with poppies and that a band of helpers is ready to take to the streets. This army of organisers and collectors is around 10,000 strong and there is no doubt that, without the dedication and hard work of all our volunteers, the Scottish Poppy Appeal could not happen.

In 2010 the Appeal raised a record £2.35 million, a 5% increase on the previous year and a doubling of income over the past five years. The public’s support for the Appeal continues to be strong and I hope that they will respond just as generously this year so that we can continue to provide support to Scotland’s veterans’ community. 

So, as we prepare for our final opportunity to raise funds during the 2011 Scottish Poppy Appeal, I extend my deepest thanks to everyone involved, from volunteers and collectors to supporters and members of the public who will be putting money in the tins in exchange for a small red paper poppy that has provided life-changing support to veterans for the past ninety years and will continue to do so for many years to come.

Ian McGregor, Chief Executive, Poppyscotland

“Your job must be so glamorous and exciting” is a typical response when I tell people I am responsible for Poppyscotland’s PR activity.

I am reminded of this as I’m standing in a field just off the M8 on a windy, drizzly day, precariously balancing a photographer’s (probably very expensive) camera flash in one hand and my mobile phone and notepad in the other, while trying and failing to keep my hood up.

A few days earlier I was on a parade square at Glencorse Barracks, being ‘directed’ from a tower above by a pack of photographers as we tried to create a giant human‘90’ shape with 50 soldiers from 2 SCOTS.

It can only mean one thing. The Scottish Poppy Appeal is here. And this year it’s the 90^th – a big milestone. Ninety years on the Appeal is going strong and is needed as much now as ever before.

There is a marked quickening of pace from early September and by the end of October, myself and Fraser, Poppyscotland’s PR & Marketing department, are in the midst of a flurry of activity – mostly meticulously planned and delivered but a with a few last-minute, unplanned scenarios thrown in to keep us on our toes. For every activity the overall aim is the same, to raise awareness of the Scottish Poppy Appeal and encourage people to give as much as they can when putting money in the poppy tins.     

One of the highlights of the campaign: William Walker, aged 90, joins soldiers from 2 SCOTS to launch the 90th Scottish Poppy Appeal

I feel proud of the support that the Scottish Poppy Appeal receives from everyone involved. At the launch of the Appeal at Glencorse, from the Army Press Office to the RSM and the soldiers who took part, they could not have been more enthusiastic.  The star of the show was William Walker, a 90 year-old veteran from Edinburgh, who was injured in Burma in World War II.  William took part in the numerous photographs and media interviews with patience, dignity and pride. I was honoured to spend time with him and glad that he was sharing in our 90^th anniversary celebrations. 

The reason for standing in a field off the M8 was to publicise the painting of poppies on the famous grass pyramids at J3a. The ground staff from Hampden Park and Murrayfield gave up a morning to create three stunning 10 x 10m poppies that will be seen by thousands of motorists every day for the next week.  Further along, at J9, the Heavy Horse statue is sporting a poppy, created by the original sculptor. At both locations, the sounds of the truck drivers tooting their approval gave me a real boost, although I was hoping that one eye was still on the road…

Without a supportive Scottish media, I couldn’t do my job. Each enquiry is different and I have to be ready to respond – whether it’s giving a journalist some facts and figures about the Appeal, showing them round the Poppy Factory to meet the 40-strong team or identifying veterans for interview that Poppyscotland has helped from Afghanistan up to World War II. So when a snapper gets grumpy with me for not holding the flash properly, I let it go, because I know he or she is trying to get the best shot which will then get Poppyscotland a good spot in the newspaper. Okay, sometimes, I do snap back, especially when there’s no coffee.

In my job, I’ve realised how powerful social media is in changing the way we communicate. From 5,000 Facebook followers in 2010 we’re now over 23,000 and the number of people commenting on our press releases and photographs is staggering.

It is fitting that the theme of this year’s campaign is Unforgettable. I am reminded that all around me are unforgettable people who give the Scottish Poppy Appeal their unforgettable support. Next week is Poppy Week – our last window to raise awareness and funds before Remembrance Sunday, and it brings further PR opportunities. Probably not glamorous but definitely rewarding.

Leigh James, PR Manager, Poppyscotland

I’m just back from a week’s holiday in Berlin, re-charging my batteries before pitching into the rigours of the impending 2011 Scottish Poppy Appeal.  Most capital cities have a fair bit of history to them, but few can be quite as haunted as Berlin.  What a city!  It’s been transformed by reconstruction since the Wall came down in 1989, but the ghosts of past events are everywhere.

Berlin 1945

But thinking again, is it the city?  Or is it me?  I first visited Berlin in 1974.  I was working in Hamburg before starting University and went with two colleagues, an Indian and an Irishman.  En route to West Berlin we teamed up with a South African to form a multi-national group intent on having a good time – and a good time was indeed had by us all.  I do however, recall finding it quite chilling, when we made a six-or-so hour trip into East Berlin, to witness even for those few hours the drabness and austerity of that half of the city and the intimidating conduct and demeanour of the East German border guards.

 

Berlin 2011

Fourteen years later, I was once more in Berlin, this time as an RAF serviceman.  I again went to the eastern part of the city, this time as a representative of one of Berlin’s four occupying powers, for such was our legal status as UK servicemen.  We were given a card stressing that we were not on any account to acknowledge the East German police or border guards.   If accosted by them we were to say “I do not recognise your authority.  Fetch me a Russian officer”.  I of course spent the day itching for the opportunity to utter that line with a suitably dramatic flourish, but alas, the opportunity never arose.

As a British serviceman, my status in East Berlin was secure.  The sense of menace nonetheless remained every bit as palpable as in 1974.  The East Berliners were under the heel of a particularly nasty and oppressive regime.  If anyone doubts that, I urge them to read about some of the lives it ruined, in Anna Funder’s Stasiland.

Haunted minds

My memories of Berlin have stayed firmly with me.  They are among many striking experiences I had during my time in uniform.  These were, on the whole, pretty good.  I’m not troubled by nightmares, flashbacks, or self-reproach.  I was left with no physical or mental scars.  The same cannot however, be said of a good number of Service veterans.  My very vivid but positive memories, and my good fortune in making a trouble-free transition to civilian life, make me one of the lucky ones.  As we approach the Poppy Appeal and the period of Remembrance, it’s important to remember that not everyone was lucky and that memories, consequences and scars can stick around for a very long time indeed.  For some, they never fade.  That’s why Poppyscotland is here to help and support less fortunate veterans for as long as it takes.  It’s a powerful thought to take into the coming weeks.

Ian McGregor
CEO Poppyscotland

Factory Manager Charlie Pelling with the final poppies for the 2011 Appeal

No, you haven’t misread the headline.  Here at the Lady Haig Poppy Factory we like to plan early and so as poppy production for this year’s Scottish Poppy Appeal draws to a close today our attention now turns to the 2012 Appeal.  Yesterday we dispatched the national order via our couriers to hundreds of Poppy Appeal Area Organisers across Scotland.  The Glasgow and Edinburgh orders were dispatched last month and so the Factory’s part for Appeal 2011 is done, less a very few supplementary orders that we will furnish from our reserve stock.

Drawing this year’s production to a close allows us to clear the production area and give the Factory a really good clean before we re-start production on Monday 3rd October.  This time we will be producing for Appeal 2012, still 13 months away.  We have to plan this far ahead as it takes us a long time to hand-produce 5 million poppies, as well as all the other activities that go into putting the annual order together, such as box making, tin preparation, paper cutting, silk cutting, etc. etc. Plus the wreath department manufacture 10,000 wreaths in the same period so the tempo of activity never really slacks off.

Charlie and Storesman Joe Smith load the final batch onto the lorry

Why hand-produce rather than source from abroad or make on machines?  Because by so doing we employ nearly 40 disabled ex-Servicemen who would really struggle to find employment elsewhere.  So it’s a double whammy.  You get a fantastic product, hand-made by people who really care about what they are doing and we are the biggest dedicated employer of disabled ex-Servicemen in the United Kingdom – job done!

If you have any questions on how we produce and distribute all those poppies each year please let me know.  And remember, you can also arrange a tour of the Poppy Factory.  Just visit www.ladyhaigspoppyfactory.org.uk for more details.

Major Charlie Pelling
Manager, Lady Haig Poppy Factory

On the face of it, you may think of a number of reasons, not least of which might be the current financial climate and higher than normal rates of unemployment.

The vast majority (96%) who are eligible to use the services of Career Transition Partnership (CTP) are in sustained employment within six months of leaving the Services. That is the good news. However, there is a significant minority who have been adversely affected by their military experiences or post-Service life issues, leading to a vulnerability or disability.

Why can't veterans find a job?

These are the ones most in need of support when it comes to finding employment. The specific issues faced by this group include:

• Lack of awareness of suitable opportunities for employment
• Difficulty in translating and transferring military skills into the civilian work environment
• Accepting the need for and then acquiring new skills for civilian employment
• Low confidence
• Adapting to new workplace cultures and values
• Attitudes and knowledge of employers regarding service leavers

Additionally, some have physical disabilities or psychological issues that will greatly exacerbate their difficulties in addressing the above issues.

Through Poppyscotland funding, matched by the Gannochy Trust, the Regular Forces Employment Association (RFEA) has expanded its ‘Service of Care’ provision in Scotland by recruiting a specialist employment consultant. Jenny Robertson will work with charities, Job Centre Plus and other organisations to address and overcome the issues and barriers to employment that face these vulnerable service leavers.

Have you left the Armed Forces and struggled to find suitable employment? What support was available to you? What else do you think the government and charities like Poppyscotland and RFEA be doing to address these challenges? Please share your experiences with us.

If you know of someone who would benefit from this specialist support please contact Jenny Robertson at RFEA on 07814 050921.

Let me begin with an apology.  While it may seem that Scotland has yet to experience any sort of summer, I’m afraid this blog is all about Christmas.  I am sorry for starting a discussion about the Festive period in June, but please allow me to explain.

I have just started work on developing our new range of poppy-branded products for the winter/Christmas season.  As I am sure you can imagine, it takes a long time to go through the design and production process and so the planning must start now to ensure we have the items ready for the Poppy Appeal and Christmas rushes. 

The Poppyscotland Store, which was in Edinburgh’s Holyrood Park for Armed Forces Day last weekend, was bustling with supporters who cleared us out of many of our remaining items.  While the most popular items, such as the ladies umbrella (especially popular last weekend!), will be re-ordered we are looking to expand the range by introducing some new items. 

The Poppyscotland ladies umbrella sold especially well at Armed Forces Day thanks to a traditionally Scottish summers day

Certainties are new pin badges for 2011, gents hoodies and ladies jewellery but I wanted to get your suggestions on what else the new range might include.  Of course, it may not be possible to bring every idea to life but there really is no such thing as a bad idea.  Please let us know your thoughts and hopefully they’ll be coming to a shop near you soon!