Credit: Jazmin Campbell / Chronicle.lu

On Thursday 26 October 2023, the British Embassy in Luxembourg hosted its traditional Poppy Appeal launch to thank local volunteers and hand over the collection boxes to them.

The launch event took place at the British Ambassador's Residence in Luxembourg-Ville on Thursday morning in the presence of representatives of the participating organisations, including the Anglican Church of Luxembourg, the International English-Speaking Community of the Parish of Luxembourg and St George's International School, among others.

The British Ambassador to Luxembourg, Fleur Thomas, began by thanking all those involved in the Royal British Legion's Remembrance fundraising campaign and recalled that last year's appeal in the Grand Duchy raised over €1,700.

For this year's launch, the British Embassy showed two video clips: the Royal British Legion's official Poppy Appeal video and a video testimony from Invictus Games UK medal winner Jonny Ball, a friend and former colleague of the British Ambassador, who shared what the Poppy Appeal means to him and how the Royal British Legion has supported him.

Jonny Ball is a British Army Reservist (Intelligence Corps) who notably served in Afghanistan as a military linguist. In 2019, he suffered a degloving injury in a motorcycle accident, which resulted in him having his left lower leg reconstructed. A four-year physical (and mental health) recovery ensued. He went on to win a bronze medal for powerlifting at the Invictus Games in Düsseldorf, Germany in September 2023.

Jonny Ball emphasised the importance of the Royal British Legion's fundraising efforts in helping people like him "get back on their feet" and "thrive", in this case by supporting his and other Team UK athletes' journeys to the Invictus Games. He described this support for athletes and their families as life-changing.

The Royal British Legion is the largest Armed Forces charity in the United Kingdom, providing long-term support to serving and ex-serving members of the Armed Forces and their families.

The first Poppy Appeal took place in 1921. According to the Royal British Legion website, proceeds go towards providing "vital support to serving and ex-serving personnel and their families, offering expert guidance and assistance with recovery and civilian life transitions all year round."

This year sees the arrival of a new plastic-free poppy. Poppies will be on sale until Remembrance Sunday (i.e. Sunday 12 November 2023).

Those wishing to support the Poppy Appeal in Luxembourg can purchase a poppy from the following organisations and addresses:

- Home from Home (148 Route d'Arlon, 8010 Strassen);

- Britannia Pub (69 Allée Pierre de Mansfeld, 2118 Luxembourg-Clausen);

- Paname restaurant (50 Rue Zithe, 2763 Luxembourg-Gare; organised by The 59 Club Luxembourg);

- Oscar's Diner (42 Rue de Strasbourg, 2560 Luxembourg-Gare; organised by The 59 Club Luxembourg);

- Oscar's Bar (9 Bisserweg, 1238 Luxembourg-Grund; organised by The 59 Club Luxembourg);

- The White Rose Pub (7 Rue Dicks, 1417 Luxembourg-Gare; organised by The 59 Club Luxembourg);

- Radio ARA offices & studios (4 Place des Rotondes, 2448 Luxembourg-Bonnevoie; organised by The 59 Club Luxembourg);

- Maybe Not Bob's restaurant (6 Rives de Clausen, 2165 Luxembourg-Clausen; organised by The 59 Club Luxembourg);

- North Bay restaurant (23 Rue Nicolas Martha, 2133 Luxembourg-Bonnevoie; organised by The 59 Club Luxembourg);

- St George’s International School (11 Rue des Peupliers, L-2328 Luxembourg-Hamm);

- Anglican Church of Luxembourg - Konvikt Chapel (5 Avenue Marie-Thérèse, 2132 Luxembourg);

- International English-Speaking Community of the Parish of Luxembourg;

- NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA; 11 Rue de la Gare, 8345 Capellen).

(Photo credit: British Embassy Luxembourg)