Awards for poppy record go on show

TWO awards have gone on display in Oldham following the borough’s raising of a record £62,000 for the Poppy Appeal.

The amount collected by the Oldham branch of the Royal British Legion in 2010 was its highest-ever total.

Members have now been awarded the 2010-11 Poppy Shield for the largest amount raised in Greater Manchester. They also received the region’s Jack White Cup, recognising a branch’s exceptional work in the past year, for the first time in the award’s 68-year history.

The award is named in honour of a private in the King’s Own Royal Lancashire Regiment, who received the Victoria Cross in World War One.

Both accolades are on display at Ernest Jones jewellers in the Spindles Town Square shopping centre until Friday. They will then go on show at the Civic Centre until the end of the year.

Mr Leslie Berry, former Royal British Legion branch vice-chairman, said: “It is brilliant that they have gone on display. We are are very proud. “The Jack White Cup has never been won by Oldham before.”