The people of Bute have shown their unwavering support for the Poppy Appeal, raising a generous total of £3,271.53 this year, as the island marked Remembrance Sunday with a series of moving services and tributes to those who served in the armed forces.
Alistair Woodhouse, Chairman of the Royal British Legion on the Isle of Bute, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to everyone who contributed to this year’s appeal: “Once again, the people of Bute have done us proud with a fantastic total for the Poppy Appeal.
“This generous support will go a long way to helping veterans and their families, and we are deeply thankful for the community’s involvement.”
Anthony Wildish, the local Poppy Appeal organiser, alongside his wife Mary, worked tirelessly to distribute poppies across the island.
In addition to placing poppies in shops, pubs, and businesses, they also braved all weather conditions to stand outside the Coop supermarket with their poppy trays, ensuring that as many people as possible could participate in this important fundraising effort.
A special thank you was extended to the many local establishments that supported the appeal by hosting collection boxes.
While he noted that there were too many to mention by name, he acknowledged the generosity of every shop, pub, and business that took part in this year’s campaign.
The island’s Remembrance services, held at Port Bannatyne, the Angel Memorial, Kingarth Memorial, and the war graves at Croc an Raer, were also a significant focus of this year’s commemorations.
Alistair expressed his thanks to everyone who took part in these services, underscoring the importance of remembering those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
A particularly poignant moment during the services was the tribute to Stan Ferguson, a beloved figure on Bute, who passed away earlier this year.
Stan had been instrumental in organising the services at Croc an Raer and was well-known for his generosity and dedication to the island’s veterans.
His family attended the service at Croc an Raer, despite their own personal grief, to honour his memory.
Ian Carmichael delivered a moving eulogy, paying tribute to Stan’s lifelong commitment to Remembrance and the care he showed to his fellow veterans.
Alistair also took the opportunity to thank Sylvia Smith, who has been dedicated to maintaining the flowers in the planters at the Angel Memorial, and Stuart, who pressure cleaned the area around the War Memorial.
Their efforts in keeping these memorials looking pristine are greatly appreciated by the entire community.
As the Remembrance services concluded, Alistair emphasised what the most important factor in this year’s success was: “But most of all, a big thank you to the people of Bute.
“The generous support of the community is much appreciated, and it’s what makes all of these efforts possible.”
The funds raised through the Poppy Appeal will go towards supporting the Royal British Legion’s work in helping veterans and their families, providing financial assistance, care, and support to those who have served in the armed forces.
This year’s successful appeal and remembrance services were a testament to the island’s continued respect and gratitude for the sacrifices made by those who served in the wars and conflicts that shaped our history.
