Woman still selling after 60 years (From Oxford Mail)

Witney woman still selling poppies after 60 years

8:38am Friday 24th October 2008 in Search By David Horne

Few people have done as much as Betty Sowerby to raise money for the Royal British Legion — she has been selling poppies for 60 years.

The 83-year-old Witney woman will be out again on the town's streets on November 8 with her trayful of red emblems to support the national Poppy Appeal.

And at the back of her mind she has the memory of her mum, Ada, who continued as a poppy seller into her 98th year.

"When she got too old to stand in the street, people came to her to get them from her house," said Mrs Sowerby.

"I've said to myself I will carry on as long as I can walk around.

"I've been doing it now for 60 years and when I mentioned recently it's time to retire, the Legion told me 'oh no, you can't, we need you'."

The phrase reminds her of her own uncle who went off to war in the trenches under the patriotic appeal of 'Your Country Needs You.'

He died along with thousands of others at Ypres during the First World War.

One of the treasured family mementoes at her home in Meadow View is a diary kept by her uncle, Reginald Speke, from Kidderminster. Her father, Victor, also served and survived a bullet wound in his back.

Three of her cousins also fought in the Second World War.

The Poppy Appeal, which raises money for former servicemen and their families and keeps alive the sacrifices made by the armed forces, is close to her heart, Mrs Sowerby said.

A week ago she received a framed certificate of thanks and 60-year-bar to attach to her RBL medal from the national chairman John Hawthornthwaite.

She started when she was a teenager, accompanying her mother to collect on the streets of Kidderminster, but also remembers her family raising money in the Second World War for families with casualties.

She said: "It seems like I was born with a tin in my hand. My husband Ian and I have moved house many times, but wherever we've gone the connection is always the Poppy Appeal."

Apart from a few years when she had young children, Mrs Sowerby has been an Appeal stalwart in Stourbridge, Droitwich, Crowle in Lincolnshire, Burford, Woodstock and Witney.

She will be in her usual place this year, outside the Waitrose store in Witney's Woolgate Centre from just before 9am, wearing her trademark red hat.

Last night Craig Treeby, county manager for the RBL, said: "It certainly seems to us absolutely exceptional. She certainly deserves recognition.

"Of course, we are always on the lookout for organisers and volunteers and we're so grateful people like Mrs Sowerby continue to help."

• To help with the Appeal, call the RBL's county office on 01844 218349