Royal British Legion launch Axminster Poppy Appeal

The Axminster branch of the Royal British Legion launched their 2022 fundraising Poppy Appeal in Axminster Market yesterday (Thursday).

 Committee members manned a stall in Trinity Square selling poppies and other British Legion merchandising.  They intend to run the stall again in the market next Thursday (November 10th) as well as collecting at the town's two main supermarkets, Tesco and the Co-op.

 Armistice Day (Thursday, November 11th) will be marked by a short service around the War Memorial on the Minster Green, conducted by the Legion's chaplain, the Reverend Geoffery Walsh.

 On Remembrance Sunday (November 13) marching organisations should gather at the South Street car park at 10.15 for a parade via South Street to the War Memorial on the Minster Green, under the guidance of the parade marshal, Lee Davis, who served in the Royal Corp of Signals for 14 years. The road closures will be supervised by Axminster Carnival Committee.

 A service of the Minster Green will be conducted by the Rector, the Reverend Clive Sedgewick, Former mayor of Axminster Mervyn Symes will read the roll of honour in memory of those men who from Axminster who gave their lives in Two World Wards, and Leslie Frankau, chairperson of the Axminster branch Women's Section of the Royal British Legion, will deliver the Exhortation.

 The principal guest will be the Deputy Lieutenant of Devon, Mr Brian Wills-Pope MBE, who will lay a wreath on behalf of King Charles III.

 The Mayor of Axminster, Cllr Jill Farrow, will lead the civic party, which will include town councillors. Cllr Phil Twiss will lay a wreath on behalf of Cllr Ian Hall, chairman of Devon County Council, and Cllr Sara Jackson will represent East Devon District Council.

 The service will be held inside St Mary's Church should it be raining.