Royal British Legion poppy appeal kicks off with a one-day mission

Royal British Legion poppy appeal kicks off with a one-day mission The Royal British Legion has started its 2026 fundraising Poppy Appeal drive, with a one-day mission to deliver four special poppies made from the metal of WW2 Spitfires The Royal British Legion today launches its biggest annual fundraising campaign in the UK by delivering a special poppy to the family who made the ‘ultimate sacrifice’. It was hoping to raise £50million pounds for its Poppy Appeal this year, which is backed by long-term supporter Dame Joanna Lumley. Three members of the Armed Forces representing the Royal Navy, Army, and RAF will set out on a one-day mission to deliver four poppies, made from the metal of Second World War Spitfires. The poppy campaign this year aims to highlight the “unique challenges and sacrifices” faced by Armed Forces families, pointing out ‘when someone serves, their family serves too’. Beginning in Manchester, the launch will travel to North Wales, and the RBL’s ‘Battle Back’ Centre in Shropshire, which offers residential recovery courses and then onto London. The last of these poppies will be presented to Liam Farrelly-Swanston, 39, from Reigate, whose brother Lance Corporal Paul Farrelly from Rhyl was killed while serving in Iraq in 2006. His brother was 27 when he died alongside Lieutenant Tom Mildinhall, after an ambush on their vehicle in Basra. Paul, who served with the Queen’s Dragoon Guards, had completed two tours of Afghanistan before deploying to Iraq on what was due to be his final tour. Liam said: “Losing Paul had a huge impact on our family. One of the things I’ve learnt since losing him is that grief doesn’t have to happen when a person is lost, it can come out years down the line. I will never forget waking up to all those missed calls from my mum. “I had like 20 missed calls from my mum. Instantly I knew that something was wrong, but never in my wildest dreams thinking it would be anything about Paul. “I called back, and it was my stepdad who answered, and he just said: ''Paul's died.' I couldn't compute it, it didn't go in at all, I think at one point I even said, 'Paul who?', not connecting that it would be my brother. “My stepdad just said: 'No Liam, it's Paul, he's been killed.' It's like my brain went 'pop' and then everything was so clear, there were no thoughts or anything, it was complete shock. “I think I cried, but no tears came out, it was like a moan, almost… My dad then called me, and that was horrible. I still just couldn't believe it, I was totally in shock, and I think that's when I put the news on and it said, 'two British soldiers have been killed', it didn't give names at that time. “...My dad arrived about two hours later, and that was when it hit me. I opened the door and he and my step mum were crying, and I just fell to my knees. He just held me, and I thought, ‘this is real now’. I went in the car with my step mum, and I was just looking out of the window, thinking about his life, who he was, wondering what was going to happen next.” Later they travelled to Brize Norton for Paul's repatriation, and his brother explained: “It was like being in a movie, but this was literally like being in a film. It was the most beautiful, perfect day. “They had a liaison for our family, a head at the Queen's Dragoon Guards, Ministry of Defence staff, they were all really informative and we were so grateful as we didn't know what was going to happen. Because Paul was killed alongside a colleague, both bodies were coming home on the same flight. “It was really early in the morning; the sky was red and dusky with the sun coming through, it was warm. We saw the plane come in and land, then the back came down and soldiers carried him out and brought him in front of us, where The Last Post played, which always gets me. It was really special; I'll never forget it.” About the importance of the RBL’s Poppy Appeal, he said: “I volunteered for the Poppy Appeal last year for the first time. I always wanted to do it and then my company gave us a volunteer day to use, so I used it for that. “Paul was a typical big brother, he was strong, he was tall, he was funny. He was loved by so many people. I know people say how funny that person was after they have died, but Paul genuinely was hilarious. Now I remember Paul with immense love and pride - pride in the legacy he left behind for his family and all who knew him. “To be receiving one of the special poppies today is a real honour, especially at the Iraq and Afghanistan Memorial. If Paul was here now, he’d want to make sure that everyone is remembered, not just him.” The special poppies will also be presented to the country’s youngest Poppy Appeal collectors, Ivy Knighton-Leake, 6, and her parents Steve and Kimberley. When her dad Steve, received support from the RBL after leaving the military, Ivy was inspired to begin collecting for the Poppy Appeal. She is one of the UK’s youngest collectors. Also celebrated was Carolann Catherty, 80, from Bodelwyddan, North Wales, who has been a member of the RBL for nearly 50 years and plays a key role in supporting veterans and their families in North Wales. Her husband, Alan, served in the British Army. A poppy will also be given to RAF veteran, Neil Fellingham, alongside his wife, Lauren and their daughter Poppy, 5, and Neil’s parents, Graham and Hazel Fellingham. Neil received support through the RBL’s Recovery programme at ‘Battle Back’ and competed in the 2025 Invictus Games in Canada. Dame Joanna Lumley, a long-standing supporter of the RBL, whose father served as a Major in the 6th Gurkha Rifles, is backing this year’s Poppy Appeal. She said: “I’m extremely proud to be supporting this year’s Poppy Appeal, and this year’s family theme feels particularly meaningful to me. “Having grown up in an Army family, travelling with my father’s postings, I’ve seen firsthand how much military service shapes family life. When someone serves, their loved ones share in the uncertainty, the time apart and the sacrifices that come with it. “I’d encourage everyone to get behind the Royal British Legion this year and show their support. Wearing a poppy is such a simple thing to do, but it means an enormous amount to those who serve, to veterans and, of course, to their families.”