Honour for fundraiser Bill after poppy cash soars

A charity fundraiser who helped increase the cash from annual poppy collections by more than 480 per cent has been honoured.

Bill Evans, from Low Hill, has been a crucial part of the effort to raise cash for the Wednesfield & Woodend Royal British Legion for the past 20 years but has been forced to retire due to ill health.

His dedication over the past two decades, which has seen the annual receipts from the poppy collection soar from £3,000 when he started in the 1990s to £17,500 last year, was honoured with a surprise presentation last night.

Fallings Park Labour councillor Steve Evans presented the fundraiser with a special beer tankard and a certificate marking his efforts over the years.

Mr Evans, aged 69, of Second Avenue, Lowe Hill, said: "It was a lovely surprise and nobody told me a thing.

"It was nice to be recognised."