Veterans make finishing touches to 5m poppies ahead of launch

FINISHING touches were underway yesterday ahead of this year's PoppyScotland appeal.
By The Newsroom
Published 26th Oct 2017, 07:00 BST
Updated 12th Dec 2017, 04:02 BST
Veteran Colin Richard makes poppy wreaths as final preparations are made ahead of this year's PoppyScotland Appeal and Remembrance Day at the Lady Haig's Poppy Factory in Edinburgh. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday October 24, 2017. The factory makes over five million poppies and 10,000 wreaths all hand assembled by the veterans who work at the factory founded in 1926 by Lady Haig, the wife of Field Marshal Haig. Photo credit should read: Jane Barlow/PA WireVeteran Colin Richard makes poppy wreaths as final preparations are made ahead of this year's PoppyScotland Appeal and Remembrance Day at the Lady Haig's Poppy Factory in Edinburgh. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday October 24, 2017. The factory makes over five million poppies and 10,000 wreaths all hand assembled by the veterans who work at the factory founded in 1926 by Lady Haig, the wife of Field Marshal Haig. Photo credit should read: Jane Barlow/PA Wire
Veteran Colin Richard makes poppy wreaths as final preparations are made ahead of this year's PoppyScotland Appeal and Remembrance Day at the Lady Haig's Poppy Factory in Edinburgh. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday October 24, 2017. The factory makes over five million poppies and 10,000 wreaths all hand assembled by the veterans who work at the factory founded in 1926 by Lady Haig, the wife of Field Marshal Haig. Photo credit should read: Jane Barlow/PA Wire

Veterans were on duty at the Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory in Edinburgh, where more than five million poppies and 10,000 wreaths are assembled.

Veterans including Colin Richard, Tony Hodkinson and Stewart Ballantyne helped out before the appeal is launched today.

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The factory was founded in 1926 by Lady Haig, the wife of Field Marshall Haig. It originally employed men who had been disabled during the First World War, enabling them to make poppies for Scotland.

Veterans Stewart Ballantyne (left) and Gerry Lindsay assemble poppy sprays as final preparations are made ahead of this year's PoppyScotland Appeal and Remembrance Day at the Lady Haig's Poppy Factory in Edinburgh. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday October 24, 2017. The factory makes over five million poppies and 10,000 wreaths all hand assembled by the veterans who work at the factory founded in 1926 by Lady Haig, the wife of Field Marshal Haig. Photo credit should read: Jane Barlow/PA WireVeterans Stewart Ballantyne (left) and Gerry Lindsay assemble poppy sprays as final preparations are made ahead of this year's PoppyScotland Appeal and Remembrance Day at the Lady Haig's Poppy Factory in Edinburgh. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday October 24, 2017. The factory makes over five million poppies and 10,000 wreaths all hand assembled by the veterans who work at the factory founded in 1926 by Lady Haig, the wife of Field Marshal Haig. Photo credit should read: Jane Barlow/PA Wire
Veterans Stewart Ballantyne (left) and Gerry Lindsay assemble poppy sprays as final preparations are made ahead of this year's PoppyScotland Appeal and Remembrance Day at the Lady Haig's Poppy Factory in Edinburgh. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday October 24, 2017. The factory makes over five million poppies and 10,000 wreaths all hand assembled by the veterans who work at the factory founded in 1926 by Lady Haig, the wife of Field Marshal Haig. Photo credit should read: Jane Barlow/PA Wire

The factory moved to Warriston Road in 1965 and currently has a workforce of 40 former servicemen.

A spokesperson for PoppyScotland said: As well as street collections, there is a whole host of activity aimed at raising as much money as possible.

“Money raised during the Scottish Poppy Appeal is used to provide vital life-changing support to the Armed Forces community living in Scotland.”

Motorists in West Lothian may have spotted three giant poppies painted onto The Pyramids by the side of the M8 near Bathgate in support of the appeal

Related topics:VeteransScotlandEdinburghMotorists