‘Wear poppies with pride’ says Mayor of Kirklees

Coun Paul Kane has appealed to local people and business to support the Poppy Appeal and say thank you to the country’s armed forces.

The appeal has spent £1.3m a week this year on its linked welfare services including helping bereaved families through an inquest and ensuring elderly veterans can stay independent in their own homes.

Coun Kane said: “The demand for services continues to increase and the need for public donations to buy a poppy or volunteers to offer time gets more urgent every year.

“Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday are not just about the names carved onto the war memorials, they are also about the great dignity showed by the veterans and serving members who proudly parade.

“It is our opportunity to say thank you, and wearing a poppy is a visible sign of our gratitude. So I would urge people to be as generous as they can with both time and donations in support of this year’s Poppy Appeal.”

Coun Kane welcomed members of the Yorkshire Regiment to Huddersfield earlier this year.

He said: “The link between our local communities and the sacrifices those in our armed forces make for us has been brought into sharp focus by recent VE Day and VJ Day anniversaries, which were gracefully commemorated by the people of Kirklees with the assistance of the council.

“Present conflicts involving our local soldiers continue, and Kirklees has experienced more than most the sad losses of recent conflicts.

“So while conflicts can seem like a world away as they are reported on the news, or we celebrate another anniversary, the impact is being felt at home, and that impact does not stop when other people move on. Those families rely on support they get from the appeal fund.”

He added: “The success of the Poppy Appeal relies on the committed support of volunteers, so I want to support their `Poppy People’ campaign to attract new volunteers. I believe there is a common misconception that Royal British Legion members must be either former or current HM Forces personnel, but this is not the case. Anyone over the age of 16 can help.”