A LONG-serving Haslemere Poppy Appeal collector was honoured last Friday at the town hall.

Haslemere mayor David Round presented town resident Sarah Mumford with a decoration on behalf of the national chairman of the Royal British Legion for her 44 years of devoted support – and she aims to continue for many more years to come.

Haslemere Poppy Appeal organiser and borough councillor Jim Edwards said: “I’d like to thank Sarah for her outstanding commitment to the organisation and also to all the unsung heroes in our town that brave all weathers day and night collecting donations that support those service personnel and their families that helped defend our freedoms and now need our help.”

A new record for the amount raised for the Royal British Legion was set last year, which also marked the centenary of the end of the First World War.

More than £35,000 was raised for the town’s 2018 Poppy Appeal, which Mr Edwards said was “far and away a new record for our area”.

There were more than 300 collectors and businesses helping to achieve the impressive total, braving some of the wettest and coldest conditions to achieve it.

More than £3,000 was raised at Waitrose, more than £6,000 at Tesco, £3,000 at Marks and Spencer, and more than £2,000 by Haslemere Air and Army Cadets to help swell the annual Poppy Appeal coffers.

Thanking everyone involved last December, Mr Edwards said: “Once again former mayor Brian Howard and his team ensured Haslemere looked the part in promoting such a worthy cause by placing large poppies on lamp posts around the town from Grayswood to Beacon Hill. Haslemere really is ‘Surrey’s Poppy Town’.

“Your contributions ensure life can be more bearable for those unfortunate to have been injured in defending our liberties and for the dependents of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. Your help really does make a difference.”