Retirement home builder McCarthy and Stone will donate £10 to The Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal for every visitor to its Banbury development this month.

The company said it chose to support that particular charity because many of the residents are veterans or have family and friends in the Armed Forces.

Peter Brown, 86, who lives in assisted living complex Foxhall Court and fought in World War II, said: “I think it’s wonderful that McCarthy & Stone is supporting The Royal British Legion. It is a very worthwhile charity that is obviously close to my heart and I’ll certainly be encouraging the other residents to get involved in fundraising activities.”

Mr Brown joined the Royal Navy and after training on HMS Excalibur, served as a navigator from 1944 until 1947.

His first posting was on HMS Petunia, which protected convoys in the Battle of the Atlantic and he took part in the Normandy landings in June, 1944.

Another of his wartime recollections is when his ship escorted Winston Churchill’s HMS Bulldog on its mission to free the Channel Islands from German occupation.

Mr Brown added: “I am extremely proud of my involvement and the contribution made by the Navy Corvettes during the conflict, none more so than for D-Day itself.”

Foxhall Court is a development of one and two bedroom apartments in School Lane, priced from £159,950.

The show complex is open daily from 10.30am to 5pm. For more information, call 01295 261 114 or visit mccarthyandstone.co.uk