Service held to officially launch this year's Melton Mowbray Poppy Appeal
The Last Post was sounded movingly in Melton Mowbray’s Memorial Gardens on Saturday morning to officially launch this year’s local Poppy Appeal.
Deputy Mayor, Councillor Helen Cliff, was in attendance at the annual service of dedication for Melton’s memorial to servicemen and women from this area who gave their lives during wars and other conflicts.
The service was organised by the town branch of the Royal British Legion, which is once again organising a dedicated team of volunteers selling Poppies with all proceeds supporting current and former service personnel and their families.
Councillor Cliff was deputising for Mayor of Melton, Councillor Jim Adcock, who was attending a service of commemoration in St Mary’s Church for paratroopers billeted in Melton Mowbray before being deployed to the Battle of Arnhem in the Second World War.
"The Mayor can’t be in two places at once so it is an absolute honour for me to represent him at this service,” Councillor Cliff told the Melton Times.
"This is such an important event for local residents and they always support the Poppy Appeal so generously.”
The service was given by Rev Nina Austin, of Melton Methodist Church and Gordon Watts, secretary of the Melton legion branch, also spoke at the service before Paul Hing played the Last Post.
Local businesses are selling Poppies and there will be stalls in Market Place on the next two Saturdays.
Melton’s annual Remembrance Sunday Parade is on Sunday November 8 with an Armistice Day service outside the legion HQ on Wednesday November 11.