Birmingham Poppy Day: Military staff and volunteers hope to raise £50,000 in one day

ITV News Reporter Ravneet Nandra reports on the annual Birmingham City Poppy day, back after being cancelled last year due to lockdown

More than 300 members of the Armed Forces and volunteers have been in Birmingham for their annual Poppy Day collection for the first time in two years.

They are hoping to celebrate the return of the Royal British Legion collectors for the first time in two years after being cancelled last year because of Covid restrictions.

Military staff and volunteers, including some who were singing and playing music in New Street station today, are hoping to raise more than £50,000 in a single day.

This year also marks the centenary of the charity - 100 years since the poppy was first worn as an act of Remembrance.

This year marks the centenary of the Royal British Legion Credit: ITV News Central

Andy Taylor-Whyte from the Royal British Legion said: "Today is really important for us in Birmingham, it's our very first city Poppy Day.

"So today in Birmingham, we've got 200 members of the armed forces."

He added: "We've got over 100 volunteers and we're back out and our messages, please find your local poppy collector because every poppy counts and we really want people to support the appeal this year."

"We're finding people are actually donating more," says Major Samantha Brettell of the 11th Signal and West Midlands Brigade

Daniel Darkes is a veteran but today is his first time volunteering for the Royal British Legion on Birmingham's Poppy Day.

He said: "It's just getting back into it. Get behind the Royal British Legion and they do so much for veterans each year."

"Especially this year, you know, the Afghanistan crisis," he added.

He continued: "I know personally, a lot of friends and you know, people that I've served with suffer mental health and stuff. So even with that, it's good to help them out."

Where are the main places you can collect a poppy from in Birmingham?

  • New Street Station

  • Snow Hill Station

  • Moor Street Station

  • Cathedral Square

  • The Big Peg Jewellery Quarter

  • Bullring

  • Birmingham International Airport

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