Poppy display taking over Maltby as Royal British Legion branch flourishes

Around 2,000 poppies have been crocheted, knitted and sewed since the Maltby RBL branch launched its Poppy SOS’ initiative in March.

The poppies are now on display around the memorial garden, cemetery and at Buttercross Monument.

Due to dwindling numbers and an ageing committee, the branch looked set for closure until new life was injected into it this year.

New member and branch secretary Claire Mallory said: “We have worked so hard to get the Maltby branch up and running again.”

Around 20 new members have been getting fresh ideas together and the latest poppy display is proving a hit.

“The response has been phenomenal,” said Claire. “People have been talking about how proud they are that Maltby has come together.

“We never dreamed that we would have such a wonderful response like this — it just shows what a wonderful community Maltby is.”

Claire said she had wanted to get involved with the branch out of “respect”, adding: “I have a little five-year-old girl and I didn’t want her in years to come to not know about the RBL or not know what a poppy stands for.

“If we keep it in Maltby, it shows support for all our military, ex-military and fallen. It also keeps the young and old community together.”

The branch is also planning to display the names of all the Maltby soldiers who fought in the First World War on lampposts throughout the town in the run up to Remembrance Sunday.

Maltby’s Remembrance Sunday commemorations will start at 6am on November 11 with a lone pipe playing at Maltby Crags.

That evening, members of the Royal British Legion, Maltby Town Council and the public will gather at the Crags at 6.50pm for the sounding of an air raid siren, the playing of The Last Post, a rendition of Abide With Me led by Sheffield Pipe Band and the lighting of a beacon at 7pm.

For more information or to join Maltby RBL, call membership secretary Ellen Jarvis on 07938 723464.