A WOMAN is raising money for the Royal British Legion (RBL) by appealing for people to donate pearls which are made into jewellery which she sells at auction.

Anne Kings, of Gillingham, launched an appeal last year asking for people to send in their loose pearls in memory of someone so that they could be used to make into items of jewellery to auction and raise funds for the RBL Poppy Appeal.

Before the Poppy became the symbol of remembrance one hundred years ago in 1921, pearls were the symbol of remembrance and Ms King says each pearl she has been kindly given symbolises a life lost.

She said: “Even though I have spent most of my life in the jewellery trade, I only discovered a couple of years ago, after reading the book ‘Pearls before Poppies’, that the pearl was a symbol of remembrance before the poppy. The book tells the story about the Pearl Appeal in 1918, which then followed the Poppy becoming the symbol in 1921, exactly 100 years ago."

Ms Kings said that the book, written by Rachel Trethewey, inspired her to try a unique approach to helping the RBL Poppy Appeal after she had heard it was struggling to get funds during the Covid pandemic.

She added: "I put a simple piece of editorial in a local newspaper and told the story, then told the readers that if they wanted to send me pearls in memory of someone, then I would make up as many pearl necklaces as I could, they would be auctioned, and every penny would go to the RBL Poppy Appeal.

"The response was completely overwhelming, but due to Covid lockdowns, things have been a bit stop and start, with regards to being able to get all the pearls sorted, redesigned, and threaded into necklaces."

However has said that I have now had the help of local jewellers, Allum & Sidaway, and now working alongside Nicky (the store manager), we have almost finished making up in the region of 50 items of necklaces and bracelets to be sold by Charterhouse auctioneers in Sherborne."

Charterhouse Auctioneers in Sherborne are selling these items as a special collection in their Christmas Jewellery auction, with all their usual charges donated to the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal, on Thursday November 4.

The charity was formed in the aftermath of the First World War to fight for the rights of those who had given so much and come back to so little. Today, the RBL continues to provide life-changing help and support to the Armed Forces community and challenge injustices on their behalf.

We at the Dorset Echo are appealing to our readers to donate to the RBL by visiting dorsetecho.co.uk/RBL or sending a cheque payable to Dorset Echo in an envelope clearly marked ‘RBL donation’ and mailing it to Dorset Echo, Fleet House, Hampshire Road, Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 9XD.