ON behalf of our new Bournemouth Town Centre Poppy Appeal organiser Cllr Dave Kelsey and myself we would like to sincerely thank the residents, businesses and visitors of Bournemouth for their generosity during the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal this year.

This year's total for Bournemouth Town Centre is £25,405 compared with last year's £22,116. An amazing result!

We would like to thank all of our loyal poppy sellers for their time and standing in the town centre in all weathers. The volunteers at Asda at the Lansdowne, Hotters shoe shop for storing our stock every evening, the Rev Ian Terry at St Peter's Church for letting us park in the church yard car park, Miss Annie and her team and Zumba Gold for entertaining us in the Square on our first day of the appeal and Debbie and Dean Snooks for bringing and organising the music.

Thanks also go to the mayor of Bournemouth, Cllr Derek Borthwick for attending and selling the poppies as well as members of the council and council staff.

Without our loyal poppy sellers, who include the Aden veterans, we could not raise the amounts we do year after year.

Thank you again Bournemouth for donating to this important annual appeal.

ALDERMAN ANNE REY, Bournemouth Poppy Appeal