Alan Fisher, Sue Hargreaves, and Bob Strachan were awarded long service badges this week for their outstanding commitment to the Poppy Appeal.

Each of the trio has dedicated 15 years to the cause and has collectively raised thousands of pounds for the Poppy Appeal.

Alan Fisher, single-handedly covering Abingdon’s house-to-house collections, walks 10 miles over the two-week collection period. He collected £94.21 in his first year and £1,000 this year.

Sue Hargreaves goes above and beyond collection duties. She meticulously cleans all the poppy tins, distributes them throughout Abingdon, collects them after the campaign, and counts the donations.

An 84-year-old veteran, Bob Strachan is a familiar sight in Abingdon’s town centre with his collection tin. Last year alone, Bob raised a remarkable £1,800, and he has set an ambitious target of £2,000 for this year.

Bob Griffiths also received recognition for his invaluable contribution. Bob is responsible for organizing the wreaths for Abingdon.

‘These collectors never fail to amaze me with their dedication,’ said Clare Oldfield, Abingdon Poppy Appeal organiser. ‘Their commitment is truly humbling and inspiring. I would also like to acknowledge the incredible generosity of Abingdon residents, whose contributions over the past eight years have totalled more than a third of a million pounds.’

Interested in becoming a poppy collector? Contact Abingdon Poppy Appeal at abingdon.poppy@gmail.com to learn more and join this dedicated team.

The NSPCC stall on the Abingdon Market Place on Saturday was fundraising to help the NSPCC provide crucial services like the Childline helpline, support programs, and educational resources.

But they weren’t just there for money. Being at the market helped them remind people of their aim to keep children safe. The NSPCC has a 10-minute digital training called ‘Listen Up, Speak Up’ giving advise what to do if you’re ever worried about a child or their family.

The Abingdon Community Hospital League of Friends is a local charity that raises money for all the departments in the hospital. This money helps to buy equipment and provide other services that make the hospital a better place for both patients and staff.

They are looking to increase their membership; the annual subscription is only £5. The AGM is a place to start. There is also information at http://achlof.weebly.com/.

Unlike other hospital league of friends groups, ACHLOF does not manage a café. Instead, the organisation relies solely on the dedication of its fundraisers, along with generous donations from the community, to generate funds.