VETERANS, Royal British Legion members and the Sheriff of York gathered as the 2016 York Poppy Appeal was officially launched.

They met on Friday morning outside the Guildhall to begin this year's appeal.

The Sheriff of York, Jonathan Tyler, said: “I am delighted to support this year’s Poppy Appeal and help launch it. The Royal British Legion undertakes great work to support past and serving men and women from the armed services and their families.

"York residents have always shown great generosity and the Poppy Appeal is no exception, I am sure that the people of York will continue that tradition”.

Members of the York Royal British Legion will collecting donations and distributing the iconic paper poppies across the city between now and November 12, with funds going to support the organisation's valuable work.

The first Poppy Appeal in 1921 raised £106,000. Last year’s raised over £44.5 million to help the Royal British Legion, and Yorkshire's contribution topped £3 million.

York Press:

Colonel Alexander Smith, 1UKXX’s Deputy Chief of Staff, spoke on behalf of today’s service personnel in support of the Poppy Appeal and the work of The Royal British Legion.

He said: "In the last year the generosity of the British public helped the Legion answer more than 780,000 requests for help. The Legion uses donations to offer support in many ways including providing crisis grants, researching the impact of blast injuries on the body, lobbying the government on key issues, and advising on benefits and money problems."

A Royal British Legion spokeswoman said: "The fundraising target in The City of York is £150,000 (£141,643.65 was donated in York last year) which will go towards the Legion’s national target of £43 million to continue its vital work delivering practical, through life care and support to the Armed Forces community.

There will be collections in many local businesses until November 12, and on the street in York from next Saturday.

> Donations to the appeal can also be made online, here

York Press:

Brewery Manager Alex Balchin serves Paul Collingridge a pint of Remember

Meanwhile, Wold Top Brewery at Hunmanby in North Yorkshire has launched a limited-edition cask beer called Remember, and will donate £10 from each cask sold to the Poppy Appeal.

Brewery director Gill Mellor said they hoped the new beer, a light golden ale, would prove popular and successful. be a hit.

Paul Collingridge, from North & East Yorkshire Poppy Appeal, said: "We'd like to thank Wold Top Brewery for supporting and raising awareness of the Poppy Appeal.

"We hope to raise a record amount during this year's Poppy Appeal to continue supporting all generations of the Armed Forces and their families."

Remembrance Sunday is on November 13.