Remembrance Sunday

Badger11

Member
Location
Beckenham
Country
England
I have been a poppy seller for many years, mainly because I seriously doubt I could have done the things those brave men and women did, in fighting for our freedom. So it's my way of thanking them and thanking god it wasn't me.

Anyway this week the Mail has been running an article about the slow demise of the poppy and poppy seller.

Is the poppy in decline? Some sellers say fewer are buying symbol

Unfortunately and inevitably they have a point.

When I first started people would approach me and tell me stories about their experiences in WW2, then it was their children and now their grandchildren. That WW2 generation is almost all gone, over the next few years there will be stories about the last surviving members as they hit 100+.

The connection between today and then is being eroded through time, it's not that young people today are more uncaring they just don't have a connection to that era.

I'm afraid the Mail is correct, we seem to have less sellers and less buyers. In my area we lost the people who were regional organisers, luckily the Beckenham Rotary club stepped in and took over otherwise we were finished.

So on this sad day please spare a moment's reflection at 11 o’clock for those that paid a blood sacrifice for our freedoms.
 
Me , my kids and Mrs all wear poppies, even the dogs got one.
Feel guilty walking past poppy sellers , even though I’ve got one on.
Bought my wife an expensive poppy broach a couple of years ago.
I’d have thought with the ‘immigration issue’ at the moment, more people would be buying/wearing them.
Some of them are bought online now , they advertise the football/poppy badges on the sky sports app. The Palace one sold out early this year. 🔴🔵
 
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Me , my kids and Mrs all wear poppies.
Feel guilty walking past poppy sellers , even though I’ve got one on.
Bought my wife an expensive poppy broach a couple of years ago.
I’d have thought with the ‘immigration issue’ at the moment, more people would be buying/wearing them.
Some of them are bought online now , they advertise the football/poppy badges on the sky sports app. The Palace one sold out early this year. 🔴🔵
I have one of the small metal lapel poppies that I wear each year, but I put a couple of quid in the collection box without taking a poppy. Am I doing the right thing or does ‘the system’ think it’s not selling as many poppies, even though it may be collecting more money?
 
I have one of the small metal lapel poppies that I wear each year, but I put a couple of quid in the collection box without taking a poppy. Am I doing the right thing or does ‘the system’ think it’s not selling as many poppies, even though it may be collecting more money?
I don't know about this year but in Beckenham we have been doing better each year. However according to the Mail overall the amount of money being raised is declining.
 
Fair play. They put the year on the ones I get, otherwise I’d probably do the same.
The paper ones are no good anymore, since they got rid of the plastic stems, too flimsy.

I have one of the small metal lapel poppies that I wear each year, but I put a couple of quid in the collection box without taking a poppy. Am I doing the right thing or does ‘the system’ think it’s not selling as many poppies, even though it may be collecting more money?
 
I don't know about this year but in Beckenham we have been doing better each year. However according to the Mail overall the amount of money being raised is declining.

I wonder how much of the lower collection amount is due to declining interest because its not so important to the latest generations / lack of connection with the event(s) & how much of it is due to the cashless society today - for sure of course if you want to contribute you can do it online (as I do every year) but I suspect for many its a spur of the moment conscience jogger seeing the poppy sellers on the high street.
 
I for one have noticed a lot more people wearing poppies this weekend than any other year.
Good I hope your are right.

The cashless society is a good point. We did not have a credit card machine until the Rotary club took over and it's theirs not the BL. This year I took about 90% that way but other BL groups may not have that option. It's bad organisation I'm afraid.
 
Our local Remembrance Service this morning had the biggest turnout that I have seen (been attending for the past 15 years).

What I found interesting is that at the end of the service they play the National Anthem and I could not see anyone under the age of 75ish joining in.
 
Good I hope your are right.

The cashless society is a good point. We did not have a credit card machine until the Rotary club took over and it's theirs not the BL. This year I took about 90% that way but other BL groups may not have that option. It's bad organisation I'm afraid.
People not carrying cash can be a real issue - on Thursday I saw a spectacular meltdown from a lady who wanted to pay her bus fare using American Express. It would have been more enjoyable if her protracted antics hadn't made me miss my connection to get home. Worth it though.
 
Damn I forgot it was Remembrance Sunday.

The Old Major in Fawlty Towers.

"Yesterday i went to a Remembrance Ceremony ? i don't remember that"

-------------------------------------------------------------

Notwithstanding the desire to Kick ( other ) Politics out of Football. Remembrance Sunday is important and hopefully always will be.
 
Good I hope your are right.

The cashless society is a good point. We did not have a credit card machine until the Rotary club took over and it's theirs not the BL. This year I took about 90% that way but other BL groups may not have that option. It's bad organisation I'm afraid.

Also it may well be that an amount of those that have only a card on them (no cash) may be dissuaded from approaching poppy sellers, oblivious that some may have a card machine & if they do have a card machine what might be an appropriate amount to key in / having that awkward conversation.
 
Also it may well be that an amount of those that have only a card on them (no cash) may be dissuaded from approaching poppy sellers, oblivious that some may have a card machine & if they do have a card machine what might be an appropriate amount to key in / having that awkward conversation.
As I said most people paid by card, it's awkward because if it's cash they just hand it to you. If it's a card you have to ask the amount and plug this into the machine.

Anyway most people were happy to give £5.
 
The BBC coverage yesterday was excellent, they know how to show solemn occasions. It's just a pity we have to put up with all the other nonsense.

Oh for the days of Lord Reith.
 

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