THE POPPY appeal organiser for Droitwich ended his tireless campaigning, hard-work and dedication, retiring after 26 years of service.

Spa Royal British Legion chairman, Roy Hewlett was honoured for his selfless efforts by the Town Mayoress, Jan Bolton at the Community Centre in Heritage Way on Sunday.

The St Mary's Road resident will continue to serve the charity which looks after ex-service people and their families. But he has decided to leave his poppy collection days behind him to let fresh faces step in.

Roy said: "I have organised the Remembrance Sunday parades, organised the wreaths and the street collectors. But now after 26 years I have decided to retire to let some young blood in."

The 78-year-old town resident was in the Royal Navy before joining the Royal British Legion in Pershore in 1946.

It was in 1955, he found himself chairman of the Droitwich branch and set about organising the poppy appeals to remember the fallen soldiers from past and recent conflicts. The money raised helps ex-service men and their dependents.

Roy added: "I could hardly speak when the mayoress, presented me with the certificate in recognition of the work I had done.

"It came right out of the blue but I'm very proud to accept it."

Roy intends to remain as chairman of the Spa's British Legion but is hoping to pass his poppy appeal responsibilities on to another member, Andy Tuzzio.

Cllr Bolton (Con-East) said: "I was proud to reward Roy with this certificate after all the hard work he has put in over the years. I just believed it was the right thing to do and is a very simple way of saying thank you to him for all the work he has done for the town."