‘Record year’ for RBL branch

The Whitehead branch of the Royal British Legion has had a record year after raising almost £10,000 for the Poppy Appeal.
Whitehead branch of the Royal British Legion during the launch of the 2014 Poppy Appeal. INCT 43-114-GRWhitehead branch of the Royal British Legion during the launch of the 2014 Poppy Appeal. INCT 43-114-GR
Whitehead branch of the Royal British Legion during the launch of the 2014 Poppy Appeal. INCT 43-114-GR

The branch reported a total of £9500 from this year’s campaign, with yet more funds expected to come in.

The amount already surpasses last year’s appeal, which raised £8000 for the charity.

Victor Crampton, Whitehead Poppy Appeal organiser, said: “I’d just like to thank the people of Whitehead, Ballycarry and Islandmagee for their generous response to the appeal, as well as everyone who worked hard in local shops and commercial premises to collect the money.

“We have £9500 gathered up to date from the collection boxes, but that is likely to rise to £10,000 once the final wreaths come in.”

To coincide with the one hundredth anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War, the branch hosted a stall for the first time at this year’s Victorian Street Fair in Whitehead.

“The fair did particularly well this year and there were people calling with us who had come from as far away as Loughbrickland and Limavady,” added Victor.

Primary school pupils in the area also lent their support to the annual appeal. Victor said: “We had a few hundred pounds gathered at local primary schools; about £275 from Whitehead Primary, and Ballycarry and Mullaghdubh primaries collected £100 each, which is fantastic.”

Meanwhile, Whitehead Royal British Legion chairman Bill Dornan gathered a record £200 in his own collection box.

The Poppy Appeal in Whitehead was launched in the last week of October.

The campaign helps support members of the Armed Forces, past and present, and their families.