Middlewich man awarded for 35 years of volunteering

Mike, 66, who lives on Wardle Mews in Middlewich, has been a member of the Royal British Legion Middlewich Branch since 1979 and has collected for the poppy appeal throughout his 35-year stint.

The Royal British Legion has now awarded Mike with a Poppy Appeal Long Service Medal.

Ken Kingston, Poppy Appeal Organiser for Middlewich District said he was honoured to present the award.

Ken said: "Mike has collected for the Poppy Appeal every year since 1979. One can only imagine the number of service and ex-service personnel, and their families, who have been helped by the poppy appeal over that period of time.

“He has always been happy to help with any aspect of poppy appeal fundraising projects or events in aid of the appeal. He definitely deserves this recognition."

The award was presented to Mike on Tuesday, February 10, which also happened to be Mike’s birthday.

Mike said: “Ken didn’t know it was my birthday so it was a great coincidence and a nice present.

“It came up because I mentioned the badge I received for 25 years service and Ken must have got the idea from that, but I wasn’t expecting it at all it was just a passing comment.

“I’ve done it for so long but somebody’s got to so why not me? The legion is in my blood. I think if you cut me open it would read Royal British Legion like in a stick of rock.”

“When I started collecting poppies in them days we used to go knocking on doors and you would have your own streets that you went to and you knew the people who lived there.

“Unfortunately that’s gone now because people just stopped opening their doors.

“Then I used to stand in the Bull Ring in all weathers collecting like everybody else did and now I stand around in supermarkets.”

Mike will be looking to reach his next milestone when he collects for the poppy appeal in Middlewich supermarkets this year.