POPPIES on lamp posts will be back this year in Haslemere, Grayswood and Beacon Hill as part of the Royal British Legion (RBL) Poppy Appeal leading up to Remembrance Sunday.

This year Remembrance Sunday falls on November 13 and there will be the annual parade through the town in Haslemere, as well as church services throughout the area.

There will also be a short service and two minutes’ silence observed at Haslemere War Memorial at 11am on Remembrance Day, on Friday, November 11.

Last year was a record year for the Poppy Appeal in the Haslemere area, with more than £26,000 collected and donated in schools, shops, streets and businesses as well as house-to-house.

Councillor Jim Edwards, a former Mayor of Haslemere, is taking over the organisation of the Poppy Appeal in and around Haslemere this year, after Michael Barnes stepped down from the role after last year, although he will still be involved behind the scenes.

Mr Barnes was the appeal organiser from 2004-15, during which time more than £160,000 was collected.

Ex-town councillor Brian Howard will again be organising the lamp post poppies around the district.

The 1268 Squadron Air Cadets will be collecting at Tesco on Saturday, October 29, and Sunday, October 30, as well as on Saturday, November 5, and Sunday, November 6.

• Haslemere Town Council will donate £200 to the RBL to supply four wreaths to be displayed at Hindhead, Grayswood and at the town centre war memorial.

Wreaths will be laid in Hindhead by councillor Richard Newbury, Grayswood by councillor David Round, Shottermill by councillor Pat Blades and in Haslemere by the mayor Sahran Abeysundara.

Last month’s town council meeting heard there will be no police presence to supervise the town centre parade, on Sunday, November 13.

A traffic management company will organise a “hard” road closure costing £509.25, which will be paid for by the town council.