Market Drayton Poppy Appeal raises record-breaker total

Royal British Legion branch members in Market Drayton are celebrating raising a record-breaking amount for this year's Poppy Appeal despite the nation's economic woes.

More than £17,000 has been raised by residents and businesses in the town to help injured soldiers and their families. The record-breaking total comes in the same year as the RBL's 90th anniversary.

And it is just four weeks after one of the most poignant Remembrance Day commemorations the town has seen in recent years.

Poppy Appeal organisers believe the record amount is partly due to soldiers from 1st Battalion Royal Irish Regiment based at Tern Hill having completed a six-month tour of duty in Afghanistan this year.

Len Birch, RBL Poppy Appeal organiser in Market Drayton for more than 25 years, said: "I'm very pleased with the magnificent sum of £17,060.64 that's been raised, although I'm not surprised.

"I guessed we would be up this year because of the lads who served in Afghanistan.

"When people see the pictures of war on TV, it makes them give and this year is the most we've ever raised.

"In my first few years as Poppy Appeal organiser, we used to raise only about £3,000 to £4,000 a year.

"But we worked hard this year to raise as much as we could in Market Drayton and the surrounding villages."

This year's Poppy Appeal was launched by Mayor of Market Drayton Councillor Kath Brown and RBL members, with the aim of setting a new record for donations.

Wristbands supporting the appeal were sold thr-oughout the area, while pubs, shops and other businesses also got behind the fundraising effort.

Mr Birch said: "We did very well with our collections outside the shops, including Wilkinsons in Frogmore Road, whose staff help us raise more than £5,000.

"I would like to thank everyone who contributed."

Councillor Brown said: "The people of Market Drayton always give to the Poppy Appeal because that's the sort of town it is. It's a fantastic sum of money for the RBL to have raised."