TROWBRIDGE’S 2011 Poppy Appeal was launched with a meal on Thursday afternoon, while an accolade was awarded to the chairman of the Trowbridge branch of the Royal British Legion.

In a surprise sprung at the launch lunch, branch chairman Matthew Ridley, 84, of Middle Lane, was presented with a commemorative poppy to mark his 50 years of involvement with the appeal.

He said: “It is a great honour. I came to Trowbridge in 1958 and I’d been here only two or three days when I was asked to join the British Legion to serve on their welfare committee.

“By 1961 I was chairman of the Trowbridge branch. I’d always helped with the Poppy Appeal and then I took over as the appeal organiser here in 1964, which I stepped down from doing a few years ago.”

Mr Ridley, who served with the army in the Rifle Brigade between September 1944 and December 1947, used to work at Wilkins and Hill solicitors in Trowbridge.

In 2005 he was replaced as Poppy Appeal organiser by Rick Owen, who paid tribute to Mr Ridley’s years of dedication.

He said: “I’m so glad Matthew has been rewarded with the commemorative poppy to mark his 50 years of hard work supporting the appeal. The Poppy Appeal is so important and it is such an incredibly rewarding thing to be involved with. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed organising it for the last six years.”

At the lunch, which was hosted by Wiltshire Farm Foods at St James’ Church hall, in Union Street, about 60 representatives from The Royal British Legion, The White Ensign Association, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Royal Regiment Association, The Royal Engineers’ Association and The Royal Air Forces Association were present with guest of honour mayor Nick Blakemore being presented with this year’s first poppy.

Last year Trowbridge’s Poppy Appeal raised £27,200 and Mr Owen is hopeful of raising a similar amount this year.

The Poppy Appeal nationally raises funds for the Royal British Legion which supports former servicemen and women each year.

Visit www.poppy.org.uk.

Teardrops to remember repatriations A STEEPLE Ashton woman will be selling crystal teardrops alongside the Poppy Appeal volunteers this weekend to commemorate Royal Wootton Bassett.

The teardrops, which were designed by Lynda Beaven, of St Mary’s, can be attached to poppies and are on sale to raise money for the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal.

They have become such a hit that they are being sold across the country. Around 1,200 have already been sold.

Mrs Beaven will man a stall in The Shires shopping centre on Saturday. She said: “The Wootton Bassett Teardrop Project is enabling people to silently say thank you to everyone associated with the repatriations and especially to Royal Wootton Bassett for the last four years.”

See www.teardroptime.co.uk