The Poppyscotland Blog

Poppyscotland is delighted to be supporting the 2012 Daily Record Our Heroes Awards. At a star studded awards ceremony on Friday night, three Armed Forces heroes will be recognised for their incredible bravery in the line of duty and one of them will be crowned Poppyscotland Forces Hero 2012. The finalists are Private Bryan Johnson of 5 SCOTS, Flight Sergeant Mark Lean from the RAF’s search and rescue team and RAF Logistics Corporal Robert ‘Rab’ Campbell.  Here are their amazing stories – let us know who you think should win!

Private Bryan Johnson

Private Bryan Johnson

Pte Johnson was awarded the Military Cross (MC) after he braved a shower of bullets to save an injured comrade in Afghanistan. But the modest 5 SCOTS squaddie still reckons he was only doing his job. Bryan earned his MC in October 2010, when his unit were caught in a murderous Taliban ambush. One soldier was hit but Pte Johnson, who had already shot two rebels, managed to drag his colleague to safety despite heavy machine-gun fire.

The man he rescued, from the Royal Irish Regiment, made a full recovery. Pte Johnson said “I had been in contact before, but nothing like that. It clearly was an ambush and the rate of fire and explosions was incredible. I knew we had been flanked, but I saw a fellow soldier lying there and I never even thought about it. Everything happened so quickly and the next thing I knew I had got him out of there.

“I was just honoured and humbled to get the MC, I know what it means.” He added “To me I was just doing my job. When you are out there, you just put your head down and get on with it. You don’t consider yourself brave.”

Pte Johnson admitted he was less frightened of the Taliban than he was of telling mum Lynda, who worries constantly about his safety. He showed even more bravery when he got his medal from Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace – by proposing to girlfriend Kirstie, who happily accepted.

The couple are due to wed in May and are expecting a baby in September, and Kirstie couldn’t be more proud of her man. “He’s everybody’s hero,” she said. “People love him wherever he goes.

Flight Sergeant  Mark Lean

Flight Sergeant Mark Lean

Confronted with the perilous night-time rescue of two climbers trapped on wintry Ben Nevis, Flight Sergeant Mark Lean disregarded fears for own safety. Calmly, the 39-year-old was winched by helicopter onto a narrow, icy ridge on Britain’s highest mountain – with a 1,000ft drop on either side.

Remarkably, he managed to pluck both young men to safety. For his bravery, Flt Sgt Lean received the Queen’s Commendation for Bravery – one of the highest honours for courage.

The RAF helicopter winchman received his award for remarkable courage shown on 12th December 2010, while he and his RAF Lossiemouth-based crew were on a training mission. Shortly after 5pm, their helicopter was diverted to rescue a group of five who had got into trouble on Ben Nevis. One climber had plunged 1,000ft to his death and two others had managed to scramble to the summit to raise the alarm. But two men, both in their twenties, still clung to 3ft-wide ice-covered Tower Ridge and had to be rescued by the Sea King’s crew.

Flt Sgt Lean got the first climber into the helicopter but the aircraft was running dangerously low on fuel and they had to leave the second man for 15 minutes while they restocked at nearby Fort William.

Fortunately, the climber was still there when they returned and Mark again descended to bring him to safety using a risky manoeuvre.

He recalled “When I got him back on the aircraft, he just threw his arms around me and wouldn’t let go. So I just hugged him back.” The married father-of-two, who is originally from Truro but is now based at RAF Lossiemouth, said it was a team effort.

Corporal Robert Campbell

Corporal Robert Campbell

The quick-thinking RAF officer saved a young boy from being kidnapped during his tour of duty in Afghanistan. RAF Logistics Corporal Robert ‘Rab’ Campbell, is a supplier with the Forward Rendezvous Squadron, and was based at Camp Souter near Kabul, when he made the daring rescue.

Rab explained “I was watching a man on a motorbike who was carrying a young lad of about 10 years old on the back.

“I took my eyes off them for a second to write something down when suddenly the boy jumped off and started screaming that he was being kidnapped. The boy was running away – I realised what was happening and shouted for him to come towards me. As the man left the bike and chased the boy he picked up a large rock. The boy was absolutely terrified and the man was catching up with him”.

The boy ran towards the sentry post as Rab picked up his weapon. This decisive action stopped the man in his tracks. He quickly turned, ran back to his motorbike and drove off. Rab calmed the tearful boy down, giving him water and calling for the interpreter to come and help. The boy explained that the man on the bike had persuaded him that he was going to give him a ride to join his friends playing football nearby. He had got scared and jumped off the moving bike when the man said he wasn’t going to take him to his friends. The Afghan National Police returned the youngster to his home.

Married dad-of-two Rab is modest about his role in helping the boy. He said: “I got a lump in my throat when the boy thanked me for saving his life. It all happened so quickly I didn’t realise what I had done. I just did what I knew I had to do.”

In our view, Bryan, Mark and Rab are all worthy winners and epitomise the bravery, dedication and professionalism of our Armed Forces. Congratulations to all three and make sure you pick up a copy of Saturday’s Daily Record to find out who was crowned Poppyscotland Forces Hero 2012.

As Poppyscotland gets ready for the forthcoming Edinburgh Marathon Festival on 26th & 27th May, we hear from an ex-Serviceman whose love of running is helping him deal with his battle scars.

Running has always been a big part of my life.  Ever since I realised that I was no good at the sports that require hand and eye co-ordination, I was hooked. Unlike most people, for me the school cross country was something to look forward to rather than dread. With running as part of my routine I would always just feel relaxed and energised.

When I joined the TA, it was really as a way to pursue an alternative and more testing pastime to running.  Immediately, I loved the challenge it gave me as well as the people that it introduced me to. Being mobilised for a tour of Iraq in 2004 was exciting, something that we’d all trained hard for, and for me it brought an opportunity to for even more adventurous running! Out in Iraq I was introduced to a more rebellious side to myself.  I continued to go out for runs in the tremendously hot sun even though we’d been banned from doing this to cut down on the instances of heat exhaustion. Despite never have been rebellious before or since, I just couldn’t imagine not running.

Mark Brooker, veteran and avid runner

A short while in to our tour a roadside bomb was detonated under our soft topped Landrover when we were escorting a convoy from Basrah to Al Amarah putting an end to my running for a while.  As a result of the explosion, bomb fragments became lodged in my neck, a lot of it dangerously close to my spine.  I don’t remember much about the hours immediately following the incident but I’m told the field hospital in Basra removed as much as they safely could, but my best chance was to be flown back to the UK.  It’s still hard for me to think about my period of recovery at Queen Elizabeth hospital in Birmingham.  T hey were thankfully able to remove most of the shrapnel, the last piece finally making its way out after an operation in 2010. It was a long road to recovery, which is still ongoing.

As for running?  Well, I had to start out at the very beginning again, running for a minute walking for a minute.  It was hugely frustrating but at least I was able to be a runner again.  Today, I’m happy to run most days a week, when it fits around family life.  Every year I take part in a number of long distances running events but to indulge my need for more extreme and alternative pursuits, I’ve recently taken up fell running in the hills and woodland close to where I live.  It feels like an old friend has returned to steadily help me along the road to recovery.

Mark Brooker

If you are a keen runner or have been inspired by Mark’s story, then why not take part in a running event for Poppyscotland? The Edinburgh Marathon Festival is on 26th & 27th May and, with two weeks to go until the closing date, we have a few places left in the 5&10K runs and the team relay event. To enter or to find out more contact us on 0131 550 1578 or email fundraiseforus@poppyscotland.org.uk 

To coincide with our volunteer recruitment campaign, we hear from one of our newest volunteers, Claire Kellichan, 22, from West Lothian, who tells us why she joined our team of Poppy People.

I first heard about volunteering for Poppyscotland while browsing through Facebook. The advert was appealing for volunteers to help sell Poppyscotland wristbands. I volunteered to sell these bands, and through this small act, which only took up a few hours of my free time, I raised £200 to help ex-Servicemen and women in Scotland. I felt so proud doing this that I have subsequently volunteered for more challenging acts of volunteering, such as helping to organise local armistice parades.

Newly-recruited volunteer Claire Kellichan

When volunteering for Poppyscotland, any level of volunteering is more than welcome, from selling wristbands, to more traditional forms such as collecting money in tins and even raising money through sponsored events, such as shark diving! Poppyscotland urgently needs volunteers of any age and any level of ability to help raise money for a great cause and have fun while doing so.

One of the main reasons I signed up to become a volunteer is because there is a low number of young volunteers that can help out and we really need to spread the word. Being an army girlfriend myself, I appreciate every little bit that the Armed Forces do for us, however I feel they do not get enough respect or help for their sacrifice. I want to ensure that Scotland’s ex-Servicemen and women will receive the best care and support possible, and I feel that Poppyscotland and the money they raise goes a long way to helping  achieve this.

I am raising money by doing a sponsored shark dive in October. I am slightly nervous about it, but I know that the money raised by doing this exciting event will go a long way to helping Scotland’s ex Service men and women, and by showing bravery I hope to emulate our heroes bravery and inspire other people to volunteer or raise funds and help our cause.

Volunteering with Poppyscotland has really changed my life. To know that all my support and effort which goes into my volunteering will provide a life-changing opportunity for ex-Servicemen and women in Scotland is highly rewarding. I am a full time HND Beauty Therapist student and I also work part time in a salon. I live a very busy lifestyle, however I will always find the time to spare a few hours to help out. Whatever your background or skills you may have, Poppyscotland welcomes all volunteers, and volunteers can be sure to have fun and meet new people, while raising money for such a worthy cause.

Claire Kellichan, Poppyscotland volunteer

To find out more about volunteering for Poppyscotland click here 

If Claire’s shark dive has inspired you to raise funds for Poppyscotland find out more about how you can get involved here

To coincide with our volunteer recruitment campaign, in which we pay tribute to our amazing army of Poppy People, we hear from one of our volunteers, Ramsay McGhee, who organises the Scottish Poppy Appeal collection in the Black Isle.

I like to relax by playing music on my accordion. People associate the accordion with Scotland but it is an instrument that is known worldwide and is played in different ways in different countries. Perhaps it could be likened to the people who volunteer for Poppyscotland – everyone is different and plays their own unique role.

I volunteer for Poppyscotland as an Area Organiser for the Scottish Poppy Appeal. I have always had a soft spot for the good work that Poppyscotland does. My father was in the military and my daughter is a major in the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps.

Ramsay McGhee is our volunteer organiser for the Scottish Poppy Appeal in the Black Isle

My role as an Area Organiser (AO) means that I am responsible for organising the poppy collection in the Black Isle. I have a team of collectors and helpers and I co-ordinate all the activity on the ground. The role of AO brings with it a number of tasks that need to be carried out at specific times of the year. Although the Scottish Poppy Appeal takes place in November, the work begins much earlier. One of my first tasks in the year will be to order all the poppies, tins and other items needed for the Appeal and I keep my fingers crossed I get the order right! It’s important to spend time on the administration – working out how many poppies I need, where and how they will be distributed, how many helpers I have and what roles I will allocate to them. Once that’s sorted then begins the collection in November.

My team of collectors is really enthusiastic and each person is keen to know who collects the most. There’s a bit of friendly rivalry going on but that’s no bad thing – it provides an incentive to get out and do that bit better than last year. It’s a great way to meet people. When I’m out doing the door to door collections the vast majority of people are very happy to see me and I’m quite often invited in for a cup of tea or even a dram, on occasion, to help keep the winter chill off!

Every year I am heartened by the support from the people in my local area. One area of pleasure is seeing the contribution made by young people. Fortrose Academy, in particular, really pull out the stops and in 2010 raised over £500 just from the pupils alone.  Once the Appeal is over it’s time to collect the cans and find out how much we’ve raised. 

Volunteering for Poppyscotland is so rewarding. We all know that there are ex-Servicemen and women returning home who are in need of assistance. If you support the troops and want to do something about it then you can find the time. The role of Area Organiser takes up a lot of my time but I enjoy it. And even if someone can give up two or three hours, one afternoon or evening a week to help out, that makes a tremendous difference.

Ramsay McGhee, Area Organiser, The Black Isle

Are you a volunteer for Poppyscotland or another charity? We’d love to hear about your experiences and what you enjoy most about volunteering. To find out more about volunteering for Poppyscotland click here

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