A MAN who has led Redditch’s Poppy Appeal for nearly 60 years is standing down from his role.
Peter Styler has been organising the Redditch Poppy Appeal for six decades but has decided that this year’s fund-raiser will be his last.
Mr Styler first got involved with the cause in his 20s and quickly took on responsibility for running the annual appeal, but having turned 80 in January, he has decided it’s time to hand over the reins.
“It’s just getting a bit too much for me now – it’s a big task to take on,” he said.
“Every year it has got bigger and bigger. When I first started if we took £700 we thought we had done well, but it’s grown so much that we now sometimes take up to £20,000.
“I will still be a member of the Royal British Legion but it’s time to pass on the responsibility to a younger person now. The appeal is something that is very close to my heart – both my brother and father were servicemen, and I served from ‘54 to ‘56, so I know the cause is a worthy one.”
The first Poppy Appeal was held in 1921 and raised more than £106,000 to help First World War veterans find employment and housing.
This year, The Royal British Legion is asking the nation to Rethink Remembrance by recognising the sacrifices made not just by the Armed Forces of the past, but by today’s generation too. Remembrance events will be taking place throughout November in Redditch and Alcester.
4th Jun, 2026
