Date:
The seventh annual Woking Poppy Day will take place on Saturday 2 November 2019, with the Royal British Legion’s focus this year encouraging the nation to recognise the unseen service and sacrifice of our Armed Forces, past and present.
Supported by Woking Borough Council, the annual Woking Poppy Day will feature veterans, cadets and the Royal British Legion Standard Bearers parading to the War Memorial in Jubilee Square, led by the British Airways Marching Band. They will then be joined by the Mayor of Woking, Cllr Beryl Hunwicks, and Civic guests, for an exhortation led by Borough Army Champion John Kingsbury, and a one minute silence at 11am.
The poppy parade will be followed by a jam-packed day of entertainment in Woking town centre with performances from Oatlands Pipe Band, Alder Valley Brass Band and Tracey Summerscales Dance Academy.
Mass collections will take place throughout the day, with collectors from The Royal British Legion and cadets located around Woking offering poppies to the public.
The Royal British Legion’s Community Fundraiser in West Surrey, Lauryn Francis, said: “From combating piracy and providing support during natural disasters, to working in collaboration with organisations such as the police to keep the nation safe, our Armed Forces are supporting us daily in a huge variety of ways which often go unseen.
“Life in the Armed Forces comes with unique challenges for those serving, and for their families, yet they are here for us every single day and always have been, so the Legion is here for them whenever they need us.”
The fundraising target in Surrey this year is £1.5 million. The money raised will enable the Legion to continue its vital work delivering life-long support to Service and ex-Service personnel and their families through hardships, injuries and bereavements.
The Legion uses donations in many ways including providing crisis grants, sport and art-based recovery programmes, specialist dementia care, lobbying the government on issues that affect our community and advising and supporting with benefits and money issues.
John Kingsbury, said: “The unseen sacrifices our military personnel make on our behalf deserve to be recognised so wear your poppy with pride and show your support for our Armed Forces community, past and present.
“Every donation received will make a real difference not only to the lives of Service men and women and veterans, but to their families as well who can also experience difficulties dealing with the circumstances of a loved one who is serving.”
The national Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal launch will take place on Thursday 24 October, supported by Armed Forces personnel, veterans and various celebrities.
Poppy Day event schedule
- 10.15am - Event begins with Tracey Summerscales Dance Academy
- 10.55am - Parade commences led by British Airways Marching Band
- 11am – Exhortation
- 11.01am - One minute silence
- 11.10am - Poems by Nadine and Nikole
- 11.20am - Tracey Summerscales Dance Academy
- 11.40am - British Airways Marching Band
- 12.20pm - Oatlands Pipe Band
- 1.00pm - Alder Valley Brass Band
- 1.45pm - Oatlands Pipe Band
- 2.30pm - Alder Valley Brass Band
- 3.30pm - Event finishes