Poppy party will celebrate 90 years of helping servicemen

Whitnash’s Great Poppy Party will raise money for the British Legion and the Forces Children’s Trust with a series of events starting on June 10.

The event has been organised by residents and Whitnash Town Council. Cllr Adrian Barton said: “It’s a cause that’s very much in the news at the moment with us fighting in Afghanistan. If you look at the injured coming back it is down to the British Legion to look after them.”

Events will start with a Let’s Wear Red Day on Friday June 10 in aid of the Forces Children’s Trust. Schools around the town are taking part, and organisers are calling on companies to collect donations in return for staff wearing red clothing.

Organiser Fiona Watson said: “The old-fashioned view is that the children will cope but they don’t. There are families that have lost mum or dad and the Forces Children’s Trust are there to support them.”

On Saturday June 11, there will be a ‘poppy trail’ treasure hunt and the Help for Heroes tank will visit the Lawns care home, where visitors can see a First World War field hospital, a 1914 ambulance, semaphore demonstrations and try Ritz-style refreshments. A military vehicle display at the Plough and Harrow pub will include a 1920s steamroller used in Coventry after the Blitz.

Meanwhile, a Naafi-style canteen will serve soldiers’ tea, hard tack and Nelson squares at Whitnash Sports and Social Club, where there will be a scale model of Southampton docks on D-Day and displays from the Royal British Legion, the Forces Welfare Trust and the Gurkha Welfare Trust.

The Blitz theme will continue with a 1940s dance at the club on Saturday evening and the weekend will end with a thanksgiving service at St Margaret’s church on Sunday at 6.30pm. Call 07855 372323 for information.