This year’s Isle of Wight Poppy Appeal Launch will take place in Ventnor on Saturday 29th October organised by the Ventnor Branch of the Royal British Legion.

The Lord Lieutenant will receive and hand out poppies to mark the moment when poppies can be worn this year. The Chairman of the Isle of Wight Council, the High Sheriff, the Mayor of Ventnor and officials of the County Legion will be in attendance.

The ceremony will be in Ventnor’s Central Car Park in the High Street. Stalls and a display of military vehicles will be there from 9.30am.

QuintIsle and the Medina Choir are providing music.

A parade will leave Dudley Road car park at 10.30am led by the Wight Diamond Marching Band and a military vehicle with local young people carrying the poppies and proceed to the Central Car Park.

It will include veterans, sea scouts and army cadets.

A short ceremony with the Lord Lieutenant will then take place at about 11am and the poppies will be blessed by Reverend Tony Richards, the Legion Chaplain.

Although the Central Car Park will be closed, Town Council car parks will be free on the day. In the event of very bad weather the ceremony will take place in the Winter Gardens.

Image: © Rachel Crombie