HE HAS stood proudly in Oxford every year since 1973, raising enough money to send more than 60 injured and retired servicemen on a much-needed break.

But at the age of 81, Army veteran Jim Lewendon says he has no plans to slow down and is aiming to raise more money than ever for this year’s Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal.

Mr Lewendon, of Headington, has been in Carfax every morning for the past two weeks and will sell his last poppy of the year on Saturday.

Over the past 37 years, he has raised about £22,000.

Last night the great-grandfather of six urged everybody in Oxfordshire to dig deep and give generously to the appeal ahead of Armistice Day tomorrow.

And he is calling on everyone to observe a two-minute silence at 11am tomorrow.

He said: “People in Oxford have been so generous this year, as they always are.

“They always stop for a chat and buy their poppy and really support the appeal, which is brilliant.

“I normally collect outside the Royal Albert Hall in London on the Saturday, but this year I will be out in Oxford, hoping to raise more money than ever. It’s a lovely atmosphere and I like collecting, and with a bit of luck I’ll be doing it next year as well.”

Mr Lewendon, who served with the Royal Artillery for three years, estimates he normally collects about £600 a year.

Each getaway costs the Royal British Legion £360. Money raised by Mr Lewendon could also buy nine stairlifts or 11 mobility scooters.

Mr Lewendon is the Legion’s county vice-chairman and also secretary of the Marston branch.

He is also an organiser of Headley Way standard bearers, who honour fallen troops during repatriation to the John Radcliffe Hospital, in Oxford.

Legion county manager Linda Flecknell paid tribute to Mr Lewendon’s efforts.

She said: “Jim’s dedication to the Legion has been demonstrated by the award of all the possible membership awards – gold badge, life membership and the National Certificate of Appreciation.

“The Legion and all that are helped both serving and ex-service are extremely grateful to the volunteers and members who passionately give up their time year on year and collect funds for the Poppy Appeal.”

Appeal organisers in Oxfordshire are aiming to raise more than £500,000.

Nationally, the RBL aims to raise a record £36m.

l The Westgate, Clarendon and Templars Square shopping centres in Oxford will all stop trading to observe the two minutes’ silence at 11am tomorrow, as will all the county’s Tesco and Sainsbury supermarkets.

City council staff will stand on the stairs of Oxford Town Hall to pay their respects and county council chairman Hilary Hibbert Biles will lead a two-minute silence at County Hall.

  • Poppy Appeal fundraisers in Didcot have celebrated raising their biggest ever annual total – thanks to the bravery of Army bomb disposal experts who are based in the town.

During the past year, collectors brought in £17,984.09 and this year they are hoping to beat that total by at least £1,000.

The feat has been welcomed by members of 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment, of the Royal Logistic Corps, who are based at the town’s Vauxhall Barracks.

Keith Hughes, chairman of the RBL in Didcot, who has just been notified of the total for the year, said the town’s collectors wanted to make a major contribution towards the £90,000 target for the county.

Mr Hughes, 73, a member of the Royal British Legion in Didcot for the past 15 years, said: “To my knowledge, this is the best total we have raised during the time I have been involved. There are about 40 or 50 different collectors and we put a collection box in almost every shop.”