Military and civilian personnel attend the HMNB Clyde Poppy Appeal Launch.
By Lucy Ashton
Service and civilian personnel at HM Naval Base Clyde joined together to launch the 2021 Poppy Scotland Appeal.
The first poppies went on sale in the Naval Base today (Monday, October 25), in HMS Neptune’s Supermess at 10.30am, with Royal Navy and Royal Marine staff going along to make their donations to this year’s appeal.
This year the poppy is celebrating its 100th Birthday. On November 11th, 1921, the first cloth poppies were sold in Britain. More than nine million were made, but such was the nation’s desire to remember those lost during the Great War, that they sold out almost immediately.
That first appeal raised £106,000, which was a great deal of money at the time and those funds were used to help WWI veterans to find employment and homes.
In addition, the poppy became a symbol of Remembrance and has remained so for nearly 100 years. Today the poppy is a well-known symbol of the sacrifices made by our Armed Forces, both at times of war and in their peacekeeping duties.
The 2020 poppy appeal raised £2.3 million pounds in Scotland alone with over two million poppies and 10,000 wreaths are hand-made by disabled ex-Servicemen at Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory in Edinburgh each year.
The poppies are distributed across Scotland by 10,000 volunteers who carry out collections on high streets, in supermarkets and other venues as well as ensuring that poppies and tins are displayed in shops, businesses and schools.
The money raised is used to provide support to both veterans and serving personnel and their families in six key areas which are Financial Support, Advice, Employment, Mobility, Housing and Mental Health.
Commander Stuart Currie, Base Executive Officer, said: “The annual Poppy Appeal is an exceptionally important time in the Armed Forces calendar as well as in the country. It is a time of reflection, commemoration and remembrance for those who fell in defence of our nation as well as being a time that unites us all.”
Base staff are encouraged to give generously and wear their poppies with pride and even if you can’t buy a poppy you can make your donation by phone, text, post or by bank transfer.
Find out more about how to donate to this year’s Poppy Scotland campaign at: Ways to give | Poppyscotland