One of the longest serving volunteers for Timsbury, Camerton and Tunley’s Poppy Appeal, Hilary Sellars, has been thanked by the Royal British Legion after 47 years of collecting.

Hilary, from Camerton, began volunteering in 1972, but has had to retire due to a knee operation, frustratingly not far from her milestone fiftieth year of going door to door in all weathers for the Appeal. She would collect all the other collectors’ boxes and wreaths for Camerton from Timsbury Royal British Legion, and return the boxes when they were full of donations.

Hilary remembers joining as a volunteer collector, thanks to a neighbour who was then the local appeal organiser, and who had a daughter the same age as her own. With her small children in pushchairs, and later her grandchildren, too, Hilary would collect in different parts of Camerton during the day, following in the footsteps of her own mother, who had also collected for the Poppy Appeal. Keeping the mililtary link in her family, Hilary’s son joined the army at sixteen as a bandsman, where he remained for thirty years, even performing at the Edinburgh Tattoo.

“I’ve really enjoyed it,” says Hilary, “as every year, people would look out for me. One lady would save her change all year round – and sometimes I would be stopped by very generous people, who were just passing, but saw me collecting.

“In the sixties and seventies, I used to count around £23, which was a lot of money then. Recently, I received around £164 – people will sometimes put in £10 or £20 notes. They can be very generous.

“I will miss seeing some of the people on the way around; sometimes it would be more care in the community, as I got to know some of the older generation who would be on their own. I’ve helped with all sorts, and people will put money in the box to say thank you.”

Chris Fiddes, Poppy Appeal Organiser for Timsbury, Camerton and Tunley, visited Hilary at her home to present her with a framed certificate, poppy brooch, and a bouquet of flowers, complete with poppies. He said: “Hilary has done an amazing job, and we would like to say a very big thank you to her for her dedication over all of these years.

“Timsbury Royal British Legion would like to thank Hilary and all of our collectors, businesses and residents of Timsbury, Camerton and Tunley, who have raised a total of £4,011.53 in our area and which helped to raise nearly £1 million in Somerset and £50,031,805.41 nationwide in 2018. This is a fantastic achievement by everyone involved and will go a long way to helping many servicemen, women, and their families of our armed forces.

“This year’s Poppy Appeal runs from 26th October until 9th November, when myself and all of the fantastic volunteer collectors will be knocking on doors during this time. If you can save any pennies, we would be most grateful for any donation.”

Hilary is healing well after her operation, and everyone wishes her a speedy recovery!