Former Swindon mayor Reginald Clarke who had a stairlift fitted in his home courtesy of the Royal British Legion. Ref: 73059-21THE POPPY appeal is almost upon on us again. And as poppy sellers prepare to hit the streets next Saturday, we asked a group of school pupils what it meant to them.

The first official Legion Poppy Day was held in Britain on November 11 1921, inspired by the poem In Flanders' Fields written by John McCrae.

It was originally introduced as a way of raising money to help servicemen in need after the First World War.

Captain Ken Cummins is Wiltshire's only known survivor from that conflict, says the appeal still holds relevance today.

Among those who have benefited from the Royal British Legion's appeal in the last year is Reginald Clarke, 85, a former mayor of Swindon, who has had a stair-lift fitted in his home.

Mr Clarke was called up for the Army in 1939 and served in France during the war, and later in the Middle East.

He said: "The stair lift is a wonderful thing, and I can't thank the Royal British Legion enough.

"I've had both hips replaced and I have problems with walking any distance, really.

"Going upstairs was extremely difficult. I could do it, but it took me an awful long time to struggle up there.

"The legion is so helpful to any ex-serviceman that has difficulties. That's why I support the poppy appeal as much as I can."

Peter Douglas, county field officer for the Royal British Legion, said: "Last year we collected £332,620 in Wiltshire, of which £49,989 was in the Swindon Borough Council area.

"We are always looking for volunteers.

"Unfortunately a lot of our collectors are coming to the age where they just can't do it any more, so we are always looking for younger volunteers to take over."

Mr Douglas is particularly keen to find a poppy appeal organiser for the Wanborough area.

Alan Baker is the organiser of the appeal in the Swindon area.

He said: "We are extremely short of volunteers this year.

"Unfortunately Gordon Moore, who is 92 years old, is unable to collect this year. In the past few years he has collect over £5,000 each year outside Marks and Spencer in the town centre.

"If a man of 92 can collect that much in a fortnight, it doesn't seem a lot to ask people do give a couple of hours."

Anyone interested in helping out with this year's appeal in the Swindon area should telephone 01793 431214.

Outside Swindon the number is 01980 847752.

'I recall the day the guns fell silent...'

CAPTAIN Ken Cummins, aged 104, is Wiltshire's only known World War One survivor.

He spent most of the war training on HMS Worcester, based at Greenhithe on the Thames, but in March 1918 he was drafted into the Royal Naval Reserve as a midshipman.

He said: "Poppy Day commemorates the two world wars and brings in money badly needed to help those who are still suffering from the effects of the wars, but the practice may have outgrown itself now.

"Children should be encouraged to wear a poppy but I've never been a believer in forcing children into anything. They have their own lives.

"If you don't want to wear a poppy, you don't have to. All these things should be allowed to disappear naturally as the years go on."

Capt Cummins feels more strongly about Remembrance Day. At 11am on November 11 in 1918 guns on the Western Front fell silent after nearly four years of continual warfare.

He said: "I remember that at 11am on November 11 in every city a gun was fired, traffic was brought to a standstill, trains stopped and British ships at sea stopped their engines.

"This practice has disappeared. Why is that?"