Wirral man honoured for 30 years service with Poppy Appeal

Steve Cawood, originally from Rock Ferry but now living in Ellesmere Port, has been involved with the Royal British Legion charity since 1995 and has raised £42,496.56 in that time.

He hopes to reach the £45,000 mark this year.

Steve is among the army of volunteers who sell poppies each year in aid of support of Armed Forces personnel.

On receiving the 30 years' service award, Steve told the Globe: "I'm delighted with it.

"I've never had huge amounts of money and certainly never enough to be able to give thousands of pounds to charity, but through collecting for the RBL Poppy Appeal effectively I have done that.

"It's the thing in my life I'm most proud of. I think in younger days we all thought we could change the world.

"I didn't quite manage that, but hopefully, the money I've raised has helped change someone's world somewhere, for the better."

The long-service medal awarded to Steve Cawood by the Royal British Legion for 30 years service on the Poppy Appeal (Image: Steve Cawood)

Steve's call to join the Poppy Appeal came in May 1995, when he was a member of a World War Two US Army re-enactment group that had gone over to Liverpool city centre for their VE-Day 50th anniversary commemoration street party.

He said: "A guy loved the uniforms and asked us 'Why don't you help the Poppy Appeal?" So I thought, 'Yeah. Why don't we help the Poppy Appeal?'

"It was also a way to use the WW2 re-enactment uniforms in a positive way to raise money for a great cause. Though it must have been a bit weird for people going to the shops to see US Paratroopers outside the shops selling poppies it certainly got people's attention! It worked too.

Steve Cawood at Cheshire Oaks on the Poppy Appeal in the First World War uniform preparing to mark the two minutes' silence last year, the 105th anniversary of the Armistice of 1918 that ended the conflict (Image: Steve Cawood) "The rest as they say, is history. The group carried on too and grew again and the members even helped on the Appeal in future years, though it's since disbanded as a group."

Asked if he ever imagined working for the Poppy Appeal 30 years on, Steve - who is now in his 60s - replied: "I did to be honest. Though I nearly never made it.

"I had to have major, emergency life saving surgery in October 2016, but somehow still turned out for the Appeal that November.

"The Poppy Organiser and a great stalwart of the Appeal for years, George Rose, said to me, half jokingly: 'Now you're in you'll never get out you know'. I replied: 'I don't want to get out!' 

'I think I'll just carry on now till the end. If the major surgery and a world pandemic haven't stopped me I doubt anything will now.

"I am from a military background though never served in the British army for very long. I have re-enacted other people's wars since 1983. WW2 originally but now spread into WW1, Victorian Wars and even a bit of Steampunk! I do talks and firepower displays in my new re-enactment venture "The Armed Historian" which covers "Muskets to Machine Guns In Half An Hour".

Steve Cawood in the WW2 US Paratrooper kit that he says anyone who bought poppies in Birkenhead from him would recognise and some still do years later (Image: Steve Cawood)

Steve began collecting for The Poppy Appeal in 1995 for Birkenhead Branch which was on Park Road East.

He recalled: "My first place I was sent to collect at was Claughton Road Kwik Save, long since gone and another Kwik Save in Noctorum which I think is now a Co-Op. The following years we did those and another "Kwiky" on Stanley Road in Birkenhead.

"I remember kids outside there doing 'Penny for the Guy' who have probably got kids of their own these days. 

"When we started in the town there were 13 Parachute Regiment veterans helping the Birkenhead Appeal, including Bill Fulton who was one of the first men on the bridge at Arnhem.

"Over the years as their health declined we collected more and more often at their old site at Tesco Bidston, I was there about 25 years all in all."

The team also collected at the Kwik Save indoor place on Woodchurch Road.

Steve recalled: "There was a little pet shop inside there and the woman who ran it always made sure we got a cup of tea and a Blue Ribbon biscuit or something.

"Once that place was converted to an Aldi obviously the pet shop concession was gone too.

"About ten years later I was collecting outside Tesco Bidston and heard a 'clunk' as a Kit-Kat was dropped in my poppy tray.

"I looked up and there was the woman from the pet shop! She remembered me! I was so touched at her kindness.

"Another time collecting outside Sainsbury's on Woodchurch Road an old guy came up to me wearing a Parachute Regiment Association cap.

"He bought a poppy but said 'I think all this is dying out now though don't you?'.

"I disagreed as plenty of youngsters seem to know what it's all about and now WW2 is on the National Curriculum I believe.

"I added: 'Well it won't die out while I'm here'.

"The guy just clasped my forearm and said 'Thanks son' and walked off, literally into the sunset.

"I couldn't believe he was thanking me. We owe it all to the likes of him and he's thanking me. I was very moved by that gesture.

"I think the most amusing moment was in November 2020 - we were selling poppies outside Asda, Ellesmere Port and given the world was in the midst of a pandemic we had gloves etc but this time had decided to dress quite sombrely in black suits to give it some respect and dignity.

"A guy came up and told us we looked like mourners and should be wearing bright clothes and trying to cheer people up.'

"A sort of 'Happy Remembrance' I suppose.

"Later that evening the Prime Minister announced another lockdown and shut everything, including the Appeal collections down so I think we got the tone about right.

"At least we did the one day and so maintained my unbroken record of years."

Technology has brought change to the poppy appeal collectors too.

Steve explained: "The scene has changed and we've even gone cashless with a card machine to some extent nowadays, but the tremendous kindness and overwhelming generosity of the British public still leaves me speechless at times.

"From little old ladies dropping a bag of pennies she's obviously been saving up into your tray to people who give so kindly even in the depth of a cost of living crisis.

"It's truly a great way to meet people and see them at their friendliest and best."

These days, Steve helps Ellesmere Port RBL Poppy Appeal and collector at Cheshire Oaks.

And the campaign for more Poppy Appeal continues.

Steve said: "If anyone is interested in helping the Poppy Appeal just ring you local British Legion and volunteer.

"There's also loads of adverts running on social media looking for help and the need gets more desperate every year.

"You'll meet some amazing people with some great stories, there's a proper 'feel good' factor and you're helping those who've helped protect your freedom."