‘EVERY poppy helps’ – that’s the message from Dorset’s charity fundraisers.

Dorset fundraiser for the Royal British Legion, Ian Jarvis, said that the work of the Royal British Legion and the Poppy Appeal was as important today as it was 91 years ago when it was set up after the First World War.

He was among members of the RBL who met with Prince Charles at Clarence House, in London, to mark the work the RBL did at Royal Wooton Bassett.

Mr Jarvis helps to co-ordinate 79 Poppy Appeal organisers across Dorset.

He said: “Last year volunteers raised just under £580,000 in Dorset.”

Mr Jarvis joined the British Legion in 1989 as a member, and became an active volunteer in 2005, by this time he had been in the army for 20 years.

He said: “Having been a member for so long I was aware of the Legion’s existence, but not of the extent of their work and it wasn’t until I became a sergeant major that I saw some of what the Legion had to offer in the way of assistance to soldiers and just as importantly to their families.”

He added: “I would never run down a career in the forces but I have witnessed times when the treatment of individuals could have been better and where the Legion has stepped in to help. This could be securing accommodation or providing an ear to that person outside of their chain of command. Thankfully these days’ things have improved.”

Leaving the Army in 2011 after 26 years, Mr Jarvis admitted was not plain sailing and the transition to ‘civvy street’ had its moments.

The RBL helped him with some training when he was unemployed then was taken on as community fundraiser.

Mr Jarvis said that the Poppy Appeal was as vital now as it ever had been with the recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

He said: “The British Legion currently spends £1.7million every week on welfare, it could not sustain that without the volunteers that we have around the country. It is currently the only forces charity that looks after all service personnel and their families.”

REMEMBRANCE SERVICES

WEYMOUTH:
The main Remembrance Day parade and service will be on Weymouth seafront on Sunday at 10.30am.
There will be a quiet contemplative service on Monday, November 11 at the Weymouth War Memorial on the Esplanade from 10.45am.

DORCHESTER:
The main service will be held on Sunday at 10.50am at the Cenotaph.
Services of Remembrance will be held at 10.50am in Broadmayne and also in Warmwell at the same time.

PORTLAND:
The Service of Remembrance will be held from 10.30am on Sunday at the cenotaph at Portland Heights New Ground.

BRIDPORT:
The parade will start in East Street at 10.20am on Sunday and go down South Street to the Cenotaph for 10.55am. This will be followed by a service at St Mary's Church.