Meet Yorkshire's Poppy Appeal volunteers this year being forced to shield amidst the Covid-19 pandemic – and those stepping up to help

This year's Poppy Appeal will be going ahead, fundraisers have confirmed, albeit on a much tighter ship.

Many of the charity's stalwart volunteers this year will be shielding at home and therefore unable to partake in the yearly tradition of selling poppies in supermarkets and high streets to honour the dead.

As a result, the 40,000 collectors that Poppy Appeal sees each year has been dramatically diminished to 28,000 across the UK, with some areas hit harder than others.

Former sergeant Dennis Woollens, 94, is usually a familiar figure seen sitting behind a table at his local Morrison's in East Yorkshire, having volunteered for 23 years.

The 94-year-old is President of the Willerby, Kirk Ella & Anlaby Branch of the Royal British Legion, but this year is staying at home to be safe.

“I will really miss it," Mr Woollens admitted.

"But I’ve been told I’m in the ‘Red Group’ and the Legion have insisted that I carry on shielding. It will still go ahead, though, but without me there.

“I’ve got a few helpers from the local branch and we’ve been meeting over the computer to prepare for it, and they’ll do a great job as always, I’m sure. The Poppy Appeal has been a big part of my life since I retired, and even more so since I lost my wife Audrey late last year.

“I’m determined to be back again in 2021, though.”

Mr Woollens has an illustrious military career, having been seconded to the Indian Army in 1945 based at Burma Command HQ, where he was heavily involved in Operation Nip-Off, the repatriation of Japanese surrendered personnel from Rangoon.

He was also one of the only non-commissioned officers in the Far East who signed the Official Secrets Act to handle a top-secret file.

Army veteran Cheryl Jones, 52, is one volunteer who has stepped up to help, taking over running the appeal in Rotherham East as many others are forced to shield or self-isolate.

Ms Jones has been involved in the appeal for the past decade since retiring from a 22-year military career, often seen collecting in Meadowhall.

"I think this year has made a lot of us realise that we have a lot to be thankful for," she said.

“I’m passionate about the Royal British Legion, I’ve never needed their help myself, but I will probably need some help later in life and I know they’ll be there for me, it’s an amazing charity."

Ms Jones said that the closure of bar service in pubs, as well as full closure of some businesses as South Yorkshire goes into Tier 3 restrictions, also means there are fewer opportunities to sell poppies as well.

"This Saturday is usually when we would start selling, which is when South Yorkshire goes into Tier 3. There is a lot of organising to do to make sure volunteers, schools and businesses have the poppy boxes and wreaths."

Over in West Yorkshire, John Huck is also battling to make sure there are still opportunities to show respect amidst the cancellation of parades.

Mr Huck, from Horsforth in Leeds, served with the Royal Engineers from 1976 – 1994 and is an official Parade Marshall for the Royal British Legion in Leeds.

He said: “This year is inevitably going to be different, with less face-to-face interaction, we’ve already had to lose one of the three supermarkets where we normally collect, and a large number of our volunteers are shielding so won’t be available to collect at all.

"However, I’ve had a good response from half a dozen local schools and I’ve been able to put out around 25 collecting boxes into businesses, pubs and clubs on my patch.”

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