WELL, I suppose there were a lot of lives sacrificed in the overthrow of the Galactic Empire, weren’t there?

The choice of volunteers dressed as Star Wars characters to accompany the Mayor of Poole to launch the town’s Poppy Appeal did seem a little quirky. But why not?

Anything that draws attention to the need for us all to support our armed forces and their families has to be a good thing.

Sometimes it is easy for us to sit back and debate the politics of the war in Afghanistan without thinking about what it must be like in the front line. We bat around opinions while out there troops are facing bullets and grenades in hellish Hellmand.

But there is something heartening in the way all generations back home respond to charities such as the Poppy Appeal and Help for Heroes. People may disagree over issues, but there’s a unity in wanting to help those who serve or have served our country.

A soldier’s death, the fourth this month in Afghanistan, took the number of British troops who have lost their lives there to 222. A further 179 died in Iraq. And many other servicemen and women and their families have paid a huge price in previous conflicts.

Despite the recession, I’m certain people will respond with enormous generosity in supporting the Poppy Appeal this year.

And if dressing up as Star Wars troopers for fun is a way to bring attention to the cause, then well done to the volunteers.

May the Force be with them. And may we, in our thoughts at least, be with the forces