A local D-Day veteran will be among those launching this year’s Poppy Appeal in Tenby tomorrow (Saturday) in what will be his 69th year collecting donations for the campaign.

Normandy veteran Mr. Gordon Prime, now in his 90s, will join an army of charitable volunteers across the nation to distribute the iconic paper poppies, collecting donations in return to raise vital funds to support current and former Armed Forces personnel and their families.

President of the Tenby branch of the Royal British Legion, Mr. Prime was one of 22 veterans chosen to receive France’s highest decoration, the Legion d’Honneur medal, during an emotional return to Normandy for the 70th anniversary of D-Day in 2014.

He received the honour in recognition of his remarkable service in liberating occupied France when serving as a motorcycle dispatch rider.

Back in 2012, Mr. Prime, of Jameston, was also presented with a poppy badge and clasp at the Lord Lieutenant Poppy Appeal Cadet Awards for South West Wales, in recognition of his 60 years plus as a poppy collector.

Mr. Prime, who has been collecting for the Poppy Appeal since 1948, said that he always says to himself that “every year will be his last,” but that he finds himself still going, and can now rely on the extra help of his electric mobility scooter to take him around Tenby whilst collecting.

“We hope to break the record again this year for donations,” said Mr. Prime.

The RBL Poppy Appeal will be launching at Tenby’s Sainsburys store tomorrow (Saturday) at 11 am, with a collection stall running up until Remembrance Sunday, on November 12.

On Remembrance Sunday, the annual parade of dignitaries and organisations will gather in the Five Arches car park at 10.50 am, before moving off for the service at the war memorial at 11 am.

Thanks go to to owners of the car park for allowing its use for this purpose.

On the Saturday before, November 11, Armistice Day, members of the Royal British Legion and the Mayor will also gather for a wreath-laying ceremony at the war memorial at 11 am, while on Friday, November 10, RBL members will be at New Hedges Village Hall with their standard bearers, for a remembrance service there, followed by a visit to Park House Nursing Home for another short service.

Footnote: All local RBL Poppy Appeal wreaths for the Remembrance and Armistice parades are also now available for collection from the De Valence Pavilion, Upper Frog Street, Tenby.