In Redditch, the sum raised was at least £200 more than was gathered in the year before. Peter Styler, an organiser involved in the fundraising, said:
“Last year we did £19,000 and I did not think we would get anywhere near it with how the financial situation is across the country so it’s amazing. There were so many young people that came and put money in. I’d like to thank the people of Redditch for all their kindness.”
The charity appeal in the Worcestershire region has been managed by various sections of the British Legion, and could build upon its success by using poster printing in South Birmingham to drum up further enthusiasm for the cause during the latter part of 2014.
Although the 2013 county total is yet to be finalised, it has been reported that the bulk of the British Legion branches have done better than they fared the previous year. This would seem to be an impressive achievement, given that approximately half a million pounds was raised during 2012.
Redditch is not far at all from South Birmingham, but it has its own identity and spirit. The local army cadets took to the centre of the town for a single day and got comfortably over a thousand pounds for their collective effort.
It is hard to explain why the collection of 2013 was apparently more successful than the one which preceded it, but regional British Legion chairperson David Waldron suggested that interest in the anniversary of World War One could have been influential.