The Truro branch of the Royal British Legion will launch its annual poppy campaign on Saturday.  

A procession including veterans, cadets and volunteers will leave the office in St Mary’s Street Mews at around 10.30am, and will be led by Kernow Pipes and Drums along a route through Duke Street, Boscawen Street and King Street, ending at High Cross where two minutes’ silence and a short service will take place outside Truro Cathedral from 11am.  

Poppy sellers will remain in town throughout the day. From Monday, local Royal British Legion volunteers will man stands in supermarkets including Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose.  

Anne Kemp, vice chair (Cornwall) of the Royal British Legion, said: “Last year’s poppy campaign raised over £42,000, so I’d like to exceed that amount this year.” 

The branch has also delivered poppy boxes to schools in the city and the surrounding area, including Chacewater and Tregony. 

These boxes contain not only poppies, but other popular items such as slap bands, wristbands and pins.  

“Schools are my favourite places to visit - the children are always very excited to see ‘the Poppy Lady’, and I often have to go back and top up the most popular items,” said Anne.  

“To my way of thinking, it shows youngsters are being educated about what remembrance actually means, which is very important.”  

At Truro College, first year Public Service students have taken collection boxes and will also be collecting at Sainsbury’s on Tuesday from 2pm to 4pm, and on Friday, November 3 from 1pm to 3pm.  

Poppies for cars and lorries are also available, and look out for giant poppies adorning lamp-posts on Tregolls Road on the approach to Truro city centre, thanks to volunteers Malcolm Barker and Cllr Loic Rich.  

More volunteers are required to man Poppy Appeal stalls in supermarkets, especially Tesco. 

If anyone would like to step up, they are asked to call the dedicated Truro Poppy Appeal hotline on 07763 519366.