THE message had not changed in the 12 years between these two pictures being taken.

‘Wear Your Poppy With Pride’ said it all as people throughout the country prepared to remember those killed and injured in war.

Remembrance Day was fast approaching and the Poppy Appeal to support the work of the Royal British Legion was well under way.

The top picture dates from 1983 when the Legion gave gold awards to eight women who, between them, had notched up 200 years selling poppies to the public.

The gold Poppy awards were handed to sellers from Littlemore and Cowley who had raised money for the appeal for a minimum of 15 years. Some had been selling the familiar red flowers each autumn for more than 40 years.

The eight proud holders of the awards, four of whom are pictured, were Jose Sharp, of Church Cowley Road, Oxford; Edith Solly, of Alice Smith House, Littlemore; Gwen Silvester, of Magdalen Road, Oxford; Esther Lodge, of Campbell Road, Cowley; Edith Quarterman, of Sorrel Road, Blackbird Leys; Rosemary Jerham, of Horspath Road, Cowley; Kathleen Bridge, of Hill Top Road, Oxford; and May Loosley, of White Road, Cowley.

The picture, below right, was taken in 1995 when veteran collectors were looking for help from the younger generation.

As you can see in the picture, they had commandeered the use of what looks like one of the city’s Nipper minibuses to publicise their appeal for money and for some youthful volunteers.

The Oxford Mail reported: “In the run-up to Remembrance Day, a dedicated band of pensioners have been working hard preparing for street collections.

“But now they need some young people to shake the tins. The volunteers from the Royal British Legion branch in St Giles, Oxford, who are all over 70, have filled more than 450 poppy trays, but helpers are needed to cover an area in a two-mile radius of the city centre, including shops, offices, pubs, restaurants and colleges.”

* In 1994, the group had managed to raise £13,688 and was determined to beat that. Does anyone know if they succeeded?