A VOLUNTEER for the Royal British Legion has been celebrated for 25 years of voluntary work in their annual Poppy Appeal.

Barbara Holland was presented with her service award today by Bournemouth MP Tom Hayes as they collected donations from shoppers at Sainsbury’s in Castlepoint.

The 84-year-old dedicates two hours each weekday to collecting donations and has become a familiar and much-loved face at Castlepoint during the annual appeal.

Castlepoint Poppy Appeal organiser Wayne Morris praised Barbara’s long-standing service and shared his appreciation for all the volunteers who sustain the Royal British Legion’s mission.

He said: “The Poppy Appeal is important because it’s about supporting our Armed Forces.

“Volunteers like Barbara, who has done 25 years of service, are vital for us to be able to collect donations every year.

“All the money collected through the Poppy Appeal goes to the Benevolent Fund; it doesn’t go into the running of the charity. It’s all for the benefit of veterans and serving personnel. Volunteers are central to that.”

Upon receiving the award, Barbara said: “I was born in the Blitz. When I was six years old, my uncle was rescued from Dunkirk, and he took me to the Cenotaph for the first time. That started it, and I kept going back to the Cenotaph.

“Then when I first came to Bournemouth, I joined the British Legion.”

Adding: “The Poppy Appeal takes me back to my family; a lot of them have served, and fortunately they’ve all come back. So, this is a way for me to give back to the community.”

After spending time volunteering alongside Barbara, Tom Hayes said: “For more than half my life, Barbara has been selling poppies. Her family’s service background has inspired her commitment to a quarter of a century of Poppy Appeals, and we’re so fortunate to have volunteers like her raising funds that directly support our veterans and the Armed Forces.

“I encourage everyone to support this year’s Appeal to help the Royal British Legion continue their vital work.”