Can you help make Hartlepool's Poppy appeal a record-breaker?

Sian Cameron needs you as Hartlepool's Poppy Appeal organiser is hoping to make this year a record-breaker.
Standard Bearers at the last year's Remembrance Day parade.Standard Bearers at the last year's Remembrance Day parade.
Standard Bearers at the last year's Remembrance Day parade.

Now she is looking for help ahead of the town’s Remembrance services, to be held on Sunday, November 13.

“Last year we raised £50,000 just here in Hartlepool,” she said.

Sian CameronSian Cameron
Sian Cameron
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“That is the highest we have ever raised in the town, so it was great.

“Fingers crossed we can do even better this year.

“We try every year to raise a bit more.”

Sian already has a number of volunteers in place for collections over the next couple of weeks, but she is always on the look-out for extra help in the run-up to Remembrance Sunday.

Sian CameronSian Cameron
Sian Cameron

“We are just about there,” she said.

“I would say we have got about 25 volunteers now, but the more the merrier.”

Sian took over the running of the Poppy Appeal in the town following the sudden death of her dad Ian in 2010.

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Ian had been on a two-week holiday Spain, when he returned to his hotel room from the beach and collapsed.

He was just 62.

Running the appeal is very much a labour of love for Sian, who has now been in charge for as long as her dad was.

No-one is quite sure how Ian came to be the main man for the Poppy Appeal for Hartlepool, as he had never served as a member of the forces and so was not a member of the Royal British Legion.

“There were two old ladies who used to collect in the town for years and there came a time when they just couldn’t do it any more,” said Sian.

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“I don’t know how Dad came to take over from them, but he did.

“I have spoken to the Legion and they say nobody can quite work out how he got involved.

“He just did it because he wanted to help - it was just one of those things. He was just a kind soul.”

Hartlepool will hold two Remembrance services on Sunday, November 13.

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One will be in the town centre, at Victory Square, and the other on the Headland in Red Heugh Gardens.

Both will start at 11am.

More details of the organisation and timetable on the day will be released closer to the time.

In the meantime, anyone wishing to volunteer for this year’s Poppy Appeal can contact Sian Carmeron on 07787 570 601.