IN the run up to this year's annual Remembrance Sunday Parade in Horwich, an army of volunteers was busy making our town look the best its ever been in honor of our service men and women, past and present.

Local volunteers have worked very hard in maintaining both Memorials at the Loco Works in Chorley New Road and the Remembrance Gardens in Lever Park Avenue.

There has also been a flurry of activity from painting railings, installation of new floodlights at the Loco Works Memorial to the erection of a new flagpole in the Remembrance Gardens, which has also been spruced up — not to mention the volunteers who put up hundreds of lamppost poppies, which adorned the streets of Horwich.

The enthusiasm for this appeal has seen these large poppies not only adorned our lamp posts, — they have appeared on garden gates, railings, buildings and even on buses in their support for this year's Remembrance Sunday.

Keith Whittingham, of Horwich British Legion, said: “The amount of effort from local volunteers this year has been very humbling. These volunteers don’t seek recognition, they just want to create something that the whole Town can be proud of and I believe all their hard work has paid off. I’d also like to thank Horwich Town Council, the police, Horwich Fire Service and paramedics for their support on the day”.

“Finally, on behalf of the Royal British Legion, we would like to take this opportunity to say a heartfelt thank you for the generosity of local individuals, businesses and organisations who have helped raise a staggering £3,097 for the lamp post poppy appeal.

"My hope is that this has rekindled a sense of civic pride in our beautiful town and long may it continue ”

Craig Rotheram
Horwich Royal British Legion