Poppy appeal pulls in record amount

Poppy appeals across the West Midlands have been breaking records across the board, as public support for servicemen and women reaches its highest level in decades.

A record £27,000 was raised in one village in the region alone this year.

Aldridge's Royal British Legion say the amount collected was an increase of 10 per cent on last year's total and follows 12 months of rising numbers of casualties among British soldiers in Afghanistan.

There have been a total of 233 millitary deaths among British servicemen and women since the conflict started in 2001, but 2009 has proved the bloodiest year to date with 96 fatalities.

And David Partridge, president of the Aldridge branch of the Royal British Legion and organiser of village's poppy appeal, said he believed coverage of the losses had been a major factor in the record collection.

"I think most branches have had record collections this year," he said.

"There has been a lot of publicity of Afghanistan and I think people are generally aware of the huge demands being made against our armed forces.

"They seem to take the rough end of everything.

"We have had a very great deal of support because of the news from Afghanistan. It's very remarkable."

He said the total had also been boosted by the branch's decision to hold collections in supermarkets in the village this year.

"People have been very, very generous and for that we are tremendously grateful," he said.

"He added that he understood Sutton Coldfield had also enjoyed a record collection this year, gathering a total of £48,000.

Large crowds were also witnessed at Remembrance Sunday events this year. Ex-servicemen in Walsall and Willenhall both reported seeing the most public support in years at their services.

Among those killed in Afghanistan this year was brave Walsall soldier Corporal Jonathan Horne. His family were at Walsall's Remembrance Sunday parade, where they saw his name added to a plaque in Walsall Town Hall for fallen servicemen.

Cpl Horne, known as Jay or JJ, grew up in Delves, but was killed on July 10 in Helmand Province, as he battled to save comrades injured in an earlier blast.

The Elizabeth Cross medal for British troops killed on operations was be presented to the family of Cpl Horne last month.

The medal is granted to the next of kin of soldiers killed on operations or as a result of terrorism.

Cpl Horne's mother Jane Whitehouse, 54, of Delves, said she has been overwhelmed by the support she has received from family, friends and even total strangers. "It's a big honour. Jay died for his country doing what he wanted to do," he said.

A two-day event will be held next August at Walsall Arboretum in memory of Jonathan, arranged by his close friends.