Poppyscotland launches new commemorative poppy

Poppyscotland have a new poppy to commemorate the one hundred years since the end of the First World War. The Centenary Poppy has 1918-2018 embossed in gold across the iconic red paper poppy, which is the first change for decades.

Keith Brown the Cabinet Secretary for the Economy, Jobs and Fair Work and Minister for Veterans and who is a former Royal Marine himself, met with veterans at the Poppy Factory. A team of 41 former service men and women make the five million poppies each year by hand. This year almost half will be the Centenary Poppy.

Mr Brown, who served in the Royal Marine Commandos during the Falklands War, said: “Today’s launch of the Centenary Poppy commemorates the appalling loss of life which Scotland, like so many other nations, suffered during the Great War. The devastation had a profound effect on every community in the country, and its impact continues to be felt to this day – 100 years later. Working with Poppyscotland, the Scottish Government wants to ensure that the lessons learned from that conflict, and the people who gave their lives, are never forgotten.”

Charlie Pelling, Manager at Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory, said: “The Centenary Poppy is the single biggest design change of the poppy for more than a generation. The poppy has not really altered much conceptually since its inception more than 90 years ago when it was created by Lady Haig – wife of Field Marshall Earl Haig – in 1926. For the traditionalists among us, there will still be millions of ‘regular’ poppies available during the Appeal, but the symbol of Remembrance is unchanged whether you are wearing a traditional poppy or the Centenary version.”

And Mr Pelling admitted: “I love the Centenary Poppy, but, as I helped design it, I admit I am somewhat biased! However, I do feel that it makes a bold statement in this special centenary year which commemorates the end of the First World War.”

Poppyscotland provides life-changing support to the Armed Forces community. Money raised from the Scottish Poppy Appeal and our year-round fundraising enables us to deliver support to members of the Armed Forces community in Scotland by providing tailored funding and assistance.

For more information, please visit www.poppyscotland.org.uk.