THERE is no doubt that Oxfordshire will dig deep this year for the Poppy Appeal.

2013 has seen, mercifully, a drop in the number of dead personnel flown back into RAF Brize Norton, but the repatriation this week provided a reminder of the debt we owe to support our servicemen and women and their families.

And we should also pay tribute to all of those volunteer poppy sellers who brave these cold days and dark nights at this time of year.

Many of them are former military personnel themselves.

They have served their country before and, through their actions leading up to November 11, are most definitely serving their country once more.