MORE than £3,000 has been raised by Camelford and the surrounding communities for the Poppy Appeal this year, despite COVID restrictions.

With a total of £3,362 being raised — plus a further contactless donation payment from the BP Garage and BACS payments to come for the sale of wreaths — Camelford and those in St Breward, Davidstow, Tresparrett and Marshgate should be proud.

Andy Parkman, the Camelford area Poppy Appeal organiser, only took on the role in 2019 after the town was left at short notice without a representative. Although the Poppy Appeal is separate from the Royal British Legion Camelford branch, Mr Parkman said he does regularly liaise with Robin Moor, Camelford branch chairman, during parades and other local events.

Mr Parkman said: “I took this on in 2019 as the previous organiser left Camelford without a Poppy Appeal organiser on short notice. I am an ex-Artillery man so my wife suggested I step up and take it on. I have worked on my own to date and answer directly to Poppy Appeal.”

Despite the current restrictions, Mr Parkman commended the local area on its ‘fantastic achievement’ in raising such a large sum for the appeal.

He said: “Considering the restrictions I believe this is a fantastic achievement by Camelford but also St Breward, Davidstow, Tresparrett and Marshgate. The money goes to service personnel past and present and their families. On that note in the autumn I was talking to a business owner not a million miles away, ex-forces, who stated ‘I’m well now but without the Royal British Legion sending me help I would not be here’.”

‘Legion 100’, the 100 year anniversary of the Royal British Legion is fast approaching and Mr Parkman is already thinking ahead. He added: “2021 will be the 100 year anniversary so I will probably need to recruit a few helpers as I envisage a busy time ahead.”