THERE are fears Woodley, Winnersh and Lower Earley could be without poppies during the remembrance period this year.

Due to the areas’ organiser retiring, the plans for this November are in disarray leaving a string of volunteers distressed at the prospect of having no ‘poppy people’ hitting the streets.

Husband and wife Norman and Beryl Freeman, from Woodley, have been involved with the legion for decades but due to ageing limbs are no longer able to be as involved as they once were.

“I feel sick about this,” admitted Norman, 84. “I feel so awful because this year marks the 50th anniversary I have been involved with the Legion and I just can’t contribute like I once did.

“There are still seven or eight people like myself who play a key part but we are getting older now and the job of an organiser is a difficult one, it’s a full-time job for two weeks and I just cannot do it.

“I’ve had two knee replacements and I’m in terrible pain which means it’s difficult for me to get out and help with the other volunteers. This is something that is really upsetting me.”

Father of three Norman got involved with the legion after serving in the military as a regimental signaller in Austria during the 1950s.

“Someone asked me if I wanted to get involved,” he said. “I didn’t hesitate to say yes and ever since then I’ve always had an involvement and it has always been something very close to my heart.”

And now Norman is urging a person to come forward to take on the recently vacated role of organiser ahead of the remembrance period starting when the appeal begins on September 25.

Every year approximately 36 million poppies are made by the Poppy Factory in Richmond who then distribute them to volunteers to sell to raise funds for service personnel young and old.

And Norman’s sentiments have been echoed by the community fundraiser for Berkshire, Samantha Hikton, 44, who manages more than 90 areas across Berkshire for the legion.

“We need someone as soon as possible, really,” she stressed. “It is not a difficult role, but clearly you need to be organised to work out things like where collectors need to be.

“Last year the the combined areas of Woodley, Winnersh and Lower Earley raised £40,790, and so the prospect of not having that this year would have a massive affect.”