100th Anniversary of the Royal British Legion

The Royal British Legion, best known for their annual Poppy Appeal, celebrated its 100th anniversary with a wreath-laying service at Bristol’s Cenotaph. Among those laying wreaths in a socially distanced ceremony were HM Lord-Lieutenant, Mrs Peaches Golding OBE and Lord Mayor, Cllr Jos Clark. They were joined by representatives from the Royal Navy, British Army, Royal Air Force and representatives from the Ministry of Defence based at Abbeywood. In a poignant service, the last post was sounded, a minute of silence observed and the Kohima Epitaph was read. ‘It is essential that we remember those who made personal sacrifices to give us nearly 80 years of peace in the Western world.  People from across this country and the Commonwealth demonstrated incredible bravery in defending our freedoms. I am grateful that the Royal British Legion continues to honour their service’, Peaches explained. The event was organised by Billy Wilde who, barely in his 20s, has sold poppies in aid of the Royal British Legion for more than 15 years.