TV presenters wearing poppies.

I remember speaking to an elderly man once who told me he wore a poppy, not because he supported wars or the conflicts since but because he supported the men and women who served. That said it all for me.

you can donate direct to homes for veterans such as Erskine in my neck of the woods they have homes in other areas too.They have veterans of all ages from WW11 up to recent conflicts and do a fantastic job .I'd rather give them my money than the anonymus Earl Haig fund who I know from family dealing with them after WW11 were not inclined to help some who came home disabled ,in fact my uncle likened it to begging the way he was treated when he needed help .

Sorry meant Jalima 1108

Jallima118, he never said whether or not he had, I suspect he was being a little bit pompous, as he didn't ask in an informative way, more in a derogatory manner, however he did have a point as I did not know& perhaps volunteers such as myself should have asked or be made aware of the facts. Nevertheless people were happy to contribute & wear a poppy,regardless of where or who makes them.

Thanks ga - just what I needed. Brilliant.

Luckygirl and anyone else who has concerns about giving funds to the RBL, there are many other charities supporting current and ex-military personnel and their families:
Scotty's Little Soldiers provides wonderful support for children who have lost a parent in conflicts
SSAFA provides a welfare service
Combat Stress works will ex-military personnel suffering from mental health issues
Help For Heroes provides support for those who have been injured or ill

This whole topic is so difficult. I am disturbed by the support and sponsorship of the British Legion by arms manufacturers.

In no way am I not respectful of those who have died or been injured; and the families left behind who continue to suffer.

In recent years the political decisions that have sent people to war have been very dubious indeed; and deep down I feel that these lives were lost or ruined in unethical causes that are hard to justify.

Making contributions to charity is always fraught with hazard as we cannot ever know exactly how that money is spent. It would be good to be able to support the injured without having to buy a poppy via the British Legion.

All so sad.

I noticed while watchin EE that it seemed to be the upper-class baddies who were wearing poppy badges!

I was also questioned by Jonathan Dimbelby as to whether I knew how & where they were made !
Bridgeit I wonder if JD himself has ever been to the Poppy Factory which provides work for disabled veterans and disabled dependents. It is a separate charity from the RBL.

The 2017 Poppy Appeal will launch on 26 October and that's when this year's poppies go on sale. So the question is, are these last year's poppies and if so, have the presenters made a donation to the Royal British Legion?

This seem to have varied

I am sure, like you ga that the launch was on 26th October this year but one or two places seem to have held the launch earlier than that.
Some places, too, such as our local pub, request poppies and a collecting box all year round.

Thanks annie, that is kind. Yes, him in particular. I find I think of him much more often now that I'm old than I ever did when I was young and what my life might have been had he lived. I was very lucky though with my stepfather, it could have been very different!

Niggly, your father x

We buy our poppies from a poppy seller who calls every year. He comes in the first week in November which I think is early enough to wear them. We wear them for all who fought and died in both those wars prior and subsequent conflicts, particularly family members three of whom were killed.

I shall start to wear my already-bought poppy wristband and other items on November 1st. October seems too early.

Just been watching ITV news , they are wearing poppies!

The judging of non-poppy wearers was on this thread.

I have no problem at all about BBC folk wearing poppies - as long as it is their choice.

I guess it's all about raising money (at least in this case for a good cause IMO) Easter, Christmas, Valentine's Day ,everything has become much more commercialised these days, everyone wants our money !!

Yesterday my H called me in to where he was watching a football match on television.
They were holding a 2 minute silence and had the last post played.
The crowd were holding white cards and red ones to make up poppies.
I couldn't understand why it was so early.
there will be several more televised matches before Armistice Day.

Thank you Iam64, exactly ,you put it so well it is to remember those who have died & to remind us all of how fortunate we mostly are in this country .Two of my great uncles died at a very young age, I doubt that they new what for, but we know that we are still free in this country & have freedom of speech & for that I for one will be eternally grateful for that.

I agree Bridgeit, I don't know anyone who would judge poppy wearers or non poppy wearers. I have a few friends who will only wear a white poppy. I understand their reasons for this but I choose to wear a red one. Not to glorify war as some critics suggest, but as a mark of respect and sadness for so many young lives lost in war.

Perhaps I am lucky I have never come across anybody who thinks badly of anyone NOT wearing a poppy. I used to be a poppy seller & I met and spoke to many people some of whom did not agree with them. I was also questioned by Jonathan Dimbelby as to whether I knew how & where they were made !

I wear a red poppy in commemoration of those who died in war. I have been very fortunate, my grandfathers survived WW1, my father, father in law, uncles and other loved ones survived WW2.
I have no problem with BBC or other presenters wearing poppies and I suspect there isn't an edict, its more likely to have become something of a cultural norm at the Beeb.

I think I've said this somewhere before. I used to be a door to door poppy seller. I received my tray and collection tins in early October but wasn't allowed to go round the doors until two weeks before Remembrance Sunday, not Armistice Day. Shops etc had theirs at the same time, but we're expected to do the same as the door to door collectors. My local organiser was quite strict about it.

"Who are these politically correct people who abhor honouring our war dead?" - I do not know and neither does the phrase politically correct seem relevant.

I respect people's right to choose the way that they wish to remember those who fought in two world wars; and sadly in subsequent wars. For some it will be wearing a red poppy, for some a white and for others something else which is private to them.

I do not wear a red poppy for two reasons:

- the British Legion has some bedfellows about which seem inappropriate to me.
- my father, who served in Singapore, chose not to wear a poppy - I do not know why; I never asked. But I do not wear one to honour his memory. He was a very intelligent man and I am sure he had good reasons.

I hate this patronising and erroneous assumption that those not wearing a poppy are in some way flawed. WE have freedom of choice - that is what these people fought and died for.

As to the BBC, it does seem as if there is an edict which obliges those on screen to wear a poppy - I think this is wrong

Well said Bridgeit
I have bought our poppies today and will start wearing them.
Probably the BBC would get too much flak from viewers if they didn’t wear them ( and even when they do!)