The Royal British Legion’s London Poppy Day has achieved its ambitious target of raising £1 million in a single day. There were more than 2,000 Armed Forces personnel, veterans and Poppy Appeal collectors stationed at transport hubs across the capital on Thursday collecting for this year’s Poppy Appeal.
The RBL’s Poppy Appeal Director, Simon O’Leary said,
“This is an astonishing amount to raise in a single day and we would like to thank every one of the 2,000 serving members of the Armed Forces, veterans and Poppy Appeal volunteers who came out in force across the capital, all our partners and of course the brilliant commuters and Londoners who helped us achieve this. The money raised at London Poppy Day will make a real difference as the RBL continues its vital work supporting members of the Armed Forces community in need.”
This year’s London Poppy Day saw Prime Minister Rishi Sunak collecting at Westminster Tube Station, Royal British Legion Ambassador Ross Kemp collecting at Horse Guards Parade alongside members of the Irish Guards and their Irish Wolfhound mascot Seamus, and the voice of Eastenders star Shane Ritchie was heard across the London Underground network in a specially recorded tannoy announcement.
Throughout the day, thousands of Army, Navy, and RAF personnel joined Poppy Appeal collectors to hand out poppies and collect donations at Network Rail and TfL stations, in offices and on the streets of the capital. Military bands performed at London’s main transport hubs, some of which were lit up red to mark London Poppy Day. Poppy vinyls were in place on all Underground, Overground, DLR and tram vehicles, and now Elizabeth Line trains for the first time. Poppy flags flew at TfL piers with giant poppies wrapped around selected London buses.
London Poppy Day started in 2006 with 10 volunteers who raised £500, it has since grown to become the biggest street collection of its kind in Europe. Now in its 16th year, London Poppy Day offers a unique opportunity for the public to meet the military personnel and veterans collecting for the RBL’s Poppy Appeal.
