IT'S always a pleasure to hear from Looking Back regular Poppy Butcher, 90, of Weymouth, who got in touch after reading our article about HMS Dorsetshire.

The warship, named after our beloved county, played a crucial role in the Second World War - famously firing the torpedo that sank the German battleship Bismarck.

A poster recently discovered behind a wall in the Wyke Regis Smugglers pub was publicising a 1942 performance of Twelfth Night being staged by Wyke Regis WI to raise money to 'help to float the new HMS Dorsetshire.

We were trying to find out more about this fund-raising effort from the Wyke Regis WI.

Since then, we heard from Alvin Hopper, who let us know that unfortunately Wyke Regis WI's quest to replace Dorsetshire was unsuccessful. Apparently thousands of pounds were raised and there was a theory that as HMS Dorsetshire was involved in the Invergorden Mutiny in the thirties the Admiralty put her name at the bottom of the list for names for new ship.

Which brings us back to Poppy - in 1941 as a youngster she was involved in collecting money for War Weapons Week - a national fundraising effort for weapons.

And she's opened up her scrapbook to share some of the photos of her doing so.

Back in 1941 12-year-old Poppy, then Collins, hit the headlines for organising a jumble sale 'without any help'.

The article says: "Four small Portland children, who wanted to do their bit for War Weapons Week, have earned the admiration of their playmates by raising £10 through a novel idea.

"Yesterday afternoon they went to the council offices to meet the chairman, Cllr B.G. Patten and handed over the money to him. He told them how pleased he was at the fine example they has set other children on the island and soon he had them telling him all about it.

"The originator of the effort was 12-year-old Stella Auger of Albert Villas. She thought that it would be a good idea to hold a jumble sale and imparted details of her plan to three playmates, Violet Pritchard (13), Poppy Collins (12) and Leslie Bartlett (13). Next they had to find a place to hold the sale and asked Mr A. Pennel of the Cosy Cafe, Fortuneswell, if they could use his garage in Sea View. He consented and soon the great search for jumble began. In a short time they had the place stocked with all sorts of articles, from moustached cups and old clothes to a settee and a table.

"On the day of the sale dozens of people arrived to support the effort and the three little girls and the boy also held competitions to raise more money. In the end they had taken a few shillings short of £10, which Mr Pennel made up for them."

The article also reports that the headmaster of Underhill Senior School, Mr J.W. Warren, congratulated the children.

Poppy has also saved a 1941 article reporting on the handing over of the money in a money box, which said that 'a gentleman' had added the few shillings shy of the £10 the jumble sale had raised.

Throughout her life Poppy has gone on to carry on helping out with good causes. She has tirelessly dedicated herself to helping veterans by organising the vehicle parade during Weymouth’s Veterans Day celebrations.

She has also raised funds for the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal, worked as an active member of the Weymouth Moose Lodge and supported teas, dances and entertainment for the elderly of the borough.

In 2016, she became the first honorary freeman in 14 years when she was awarded the Freedom of the Borough by Weymouth and Portland Borough Council in recognition of all the work she has done for the community.

In a separate article a young Poppy received another mention in the paper for taking part in a variety concert at Underhill School on Portland. It said that Poppy 'gave a tuneful song item'. The concert helped to raise money for Lord Shaftesbury's appeal for the Aid to China fund.

In the same article Poppy also gets a mention for being 'top girl' in the results of the entrance examination to South Dorset Technical College.

Thanks so much to Poppy for opening her scrapbook and sharing these memories with us.