The flash of red and green pinned to a lapel has been made synonymous with war heroes thanks to hundreds of volunteer poppy sellers. SCOTT MULLINS speaks to a man who has been collecting for 60 years.

IN THE summer of 1948 London basked in international glory as it hosted the Olympic Games and Wembley stadium groaned under the weight of 85,000 cheering fans at the opening ceremony.

That year also saw Rowland Hill pick up his collection tin for the first time and begin his rounds in Petts Wood, asking for half crowns, shillings and pennies for the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal.

Three years earlier the Second World War had ended and, in January 1948, Mr Hill became a new member of the Legion’s Petts Wood branch.

The 87-year-old says things were very different in 1948 compared with the poppy round he still completes today — 60 years on.

The grandfather-of-six said: “I was born in 1921, the same year the British Legion started so in a way we are twins.

“My uncle was killed by a sniper in the First World War and my mother always said I had to support the Legion no matter what.

“I remember in the 50s I used to deliver copies of the Legion Journal newsletter on my bike until I had an accident on the corner of Crescent Drive.

“It didn’t stop me though, I used to do the round in a car after that.”

He added: “Petts Wood was very different back then. You could kick the dust off in London and be in the countryside within 25 minutes.”

Mr Hill first began collecting from odd-numbered houses in Kingsway and even-numbered houses in Wood Ride but his round has grown over the years to include Crofton Lane, Towncourt Lane and Bushey Avenue.

Too short for the Royal Navy, at the age of 21 Mr Hill joined the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in May 1942 and was immediately posted to Italy as an anti-tank gunner before being posted to Palestine.

The widower said: “I was supposed to get posted to Burma but they dropped the two atomic bombs and we were sent to Haifa instead.

“I loved it over there because it gave me time to photograph the religious buildings, which I was very keen on doing.”

Mr Hill, who returned to Petts Wood in 1947, resumed his career in the optical trade, in which he worked for 43 years. The lifelong Petts Wood resident has also been a leading figure in organising the Petts Wood Remembrance Day service and parade for 40 years and received a life membership from the Royal British Legion in 1998.

Mr Hill says he has no plans to retire and will be out collecting as usual this month in the build-up to November 11, adding: “I don’t have any regrets and keep going after all these years because of all the friendly and generous people I meet.”

About the legion

The Royal British Legion is the UK’s leading charity providing financial, social and emotional support to millions who have served or are currently serving in the armed forces and their families.

The Legion provides assistance with loans for small businesses and property repairs and also offers advice on benefits and debt issues.

It also provide short and long-term care for ex-service people in one of seven Poppy Homes around the country.

The Legion also arranges tours to war cemeteries, memorials and battlefields worldwide.

More information on how you can donate or support the Royal British Legion