The Poppy Express
On Wednesday evening I attended the launch of Poppy Scotland’s annual fundraising event at the Scottish Parliament.
I spoke to a number of veterans, including Dennis Scaife of the Poppy Express.
Mr Scaife, 74, from Retford, Nottinghamshire, began selling poppies on trains 10 years ago and has been doing so every year since.
He and his wife Barbara set off on 29 October on the Retford to London service, before catching another train to Edinburgh, then back to London again before returning home.
Mr Scaife said:
"People are very, very generous, I can't believe the generosity of people on board.
"They are great, they thank us for our service, they are so amazed that we are doing it on a train.
“We have a captive audience standing in the warm, we are not on a cold station or supermarket."
Mr Scaife’s idea has now grown, and he and Barbara are among 15 volunteers who collecting donations up and down the line.
The money raised goes towards the Royal British Legion's Poppy Appeal and Dennis, a former Royal Engineer, said he was happy to help an organisation which provides so much support to armed forces veterans.
Stuart Jones, managing director of First Rail Open Access, said Mr Scaife embodied:
“The very best of community spirit."
"We know that our customers will once again get behind him and show their support.”
Poppy Scotland can be contacted at: