Royal British Legion Ambassador Ross Kemp, was at Horse Guards this morning to launch London Poppy Day - Europe's biggest one day fundraising event. The actor and hard-hitting documentary maker encouraged Londoners to pick up a poppy and donate to the RBL with one of the 2,000 Armed Forces personnel, veterans and Poppy Appeal collectors that were out in force across the capital today.
He said: "This is such a special day where Londoners get the chance to meet service personnel in person and thank them for all they do for us.
"I hope everyone will really get behind London Poppy Day and help the RBL achieve its target of raising £1,000,000 in a single day. "The money raised will help the charity continue its vital work supporting members of the Armed Forces community in need."
This year, the charity is urging people to wear a poppy to show that they care and that the service and sacrifice of serving personnel, veterans, and their families will never be forgotten. Poppies have been worn since the 1920s as a visible symbol of support to the Armed Forces and in honour of those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Drummer Walsh from the Irish Guards was really proud to be part of the day. His grandfather fought at the Battle of Arnhem and was captured by the Germans. He said: “The reason I wear a poppy is to remember him and his mates who didn’t come back”. London Poppy Day is now the largest street collection of its kind in Europe. Today, it offered a unique opportunity for the public to meet military personnel and the veterans who were collecting, face to face, and show their support.