AS REMEMBRANCE Sunday and Armistice Day approach, I should like to ask your readers for their continued support for the Poppy Appeal within Bradford Metropolitan District.

Last year, the national Poppy Appeal raised just over £45.8 million, which was an all-time record. This is an incredible testament to the public’s generosity and something the Royal British Legion (RBL) could not do without your assistance.

Since 1921, the RBL’s mission has been to help those members of the serving and ex-service community who needed it.

More than 90 years on, and the Legion continues to safeguard the welfare, interests and memory of those who are serving or who have served in the armed forces. The Poppy Appeal provides the main source of funds to maintain the Legion’s many welfare and benevolent schemes in which more than 100,000 people are helped each year.

The RBL family remains ever mindful of the sacrifices made by our armed forces and the demands on its services are as important now as they were at the beginning.

Its welfare services have seen more than £1.7 million a week spent on a variety of things, from helping a young widow through an inquest to ensuring an older veteran can stay independent in their own home.

The RBL is continuing with its Poppy People campaign again this year to try and recruit desperately-needed volunteers. Anyone over 16 years of age can help – they only need to e-mail volunteersupport@britishlegion.org.uk for details.

Poppies are available to the public from hundreds of outlets in Bradford Metropolitan District and I urge your readers to give as generously as they can to help ensure the success of this year’s appeal. The continued support of the general public is vital to enable the RBL to carry on its invaluable work.

Many thanks in advance for enabling the RBL to continue to make a difference to a great many lives.

COUNCILLOR ABID HUSSAIN Lord Mayor of Bradford