Themed poppy designs will help RBL raise £100k

The 100th anniversairy of Leek's Nicholson Memorial and the city status of Stoke-on-Trent have been recognised in the new designs

A retired firefighter who has created Staffordshire-themed remembrance poppies hopes to top £100,000 in his fundraising for the Royal British Legion (RBL).

Kelvin Chell has nine new designs, including a poppy beside Leek's Nicholson Memorial, a coal miner and a sign post of all six Stoke-on-Trent towns.

Last year, Mr Chell raised £43,000 through sales at outlets across the county, as well as online orders from as far afield as the US and South Africa. He needs just £14,000 this year to reached the six-figure mark.

"Last year was an extraordinary year," he said. "I had to pinch myself. People keep saying 'How did you do it?' and I don't know."

Mr Chell retired in 2022 after a 50-year career in the county. Towards the end of his service he spotted a custom poppy badge that included another fire brigade's emblem.

"That just threw an idea in my head," he said, adding that it inspired him to produce a Staffordshire Fire & Rescue version that he sold to fellow firefighters for the next two years.

Nine new designs (right) have been added to the sought after collection including a purple poppy for the animals killed in conflict

In the year he retired, he developed new designs inspired by Staffordshire culture and opened up sales to the public.

The following year, his badges raised over £14,000 but he was completely bowled over by the response last year when he more than trebled that amount.

"If I can do over £100,000 from this year's total, that'll be my contribution to the Royal British Legion," he said.

In the centenary year of Stoke-on-Trent, he said he was keen to mark it with a signpost design listing the six towns which make up the city.

But his favourite is the tribute to Leek's Nicholson Memorial, which is also celebrating its 100th anniversary.

"The detail that's gone into it - even the clock on the clock tower is at 11 o'clock," he said.

Over 40 outlets across the city continue to support Mr Chell by stocking the badges.

"What you find at this time of the year is, because stocks are getting low, people start chasing the designs," he added.

The poppies cost £3.50 and all profits go to the RBL.