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100 Years of Remembrance: Honouring the Centenary of the Royal British Legion
2021 marks the centenary of the Royal British Legion. For 100 years the Royal British Legion (RBL) has been providing financial, social and life-long support to the Armed Forces community.
Established out of the need to provide care for those who had fought during the First World War and returned home needing assistance, RBL has been a support system and helping hand for many across the years.
Since 2004 The Westminster Collection has been proud partners with the Royal British Legion, and throughout that time our collectors have raised over £1.1 million for the organisation.
“This staggering contribution has been crucial in allowing us to continue providing vital welfare services to veterans and their families.”
Charles Byrne – Director General, Royal British Legion
In this special centenary year, we look back over RBL’s history, their achievements, and our continued relationship with this vital organisation.
The history of the Poppy
Out of destroyed fields left barren from the First World War, beautiful red Flanders poppies began to grow. This is what gave Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae inspiration to write the poem ‘In Flanders Fields‘.
Spearheaded by Moina Michael and Anna Guérin, the poppy was adopted across the globe as a symbol of Remembrance. Both Michael and Guérin produced poppies, and together, nine million poppies were produced and sold in 1921, raising more than £106,000 which went towards aiding ex-Servicemen.
Interestingly, due to the poppies being produced by different manufacturers and in separate countries, their appearance became quite different.
Those made in France were vivid red, simple, made from fabric and with a little green stalk. They included two messages on them which were ‘British Legion Remembrance Day’ and ‘Made by the Women and Children. The devastated areas of France.’
Whereas, the ones produced in Britain had a total number of five petals made from silk, with black stitching, little beads and a leaf.
The poppy design has changed a lot over the past 100 years; today it comprises of two red paper petals with a black centre and green paper leaf. But the meaning behind the symbol remains the same, and now, an amazing forty million poppies are dispersed globally each year.
RBL: 1921 – 2021
From the very beginning, the Royal British Legion has given their undivided attention to helping veterans as they believe that “no-one should suffer for having served others”.
Since then, RBL has worked tirelessly to honour that promise. Here are just some of the fantastic things they have achieved over the past 100 years.
The first TB hospital
Tuberculosis (TB) was one of the most serious health issues experienced after the First World War, resulting in the deaths of 18,000 returning servicemen. To help treat patients, RBL set up the very first British TB hospital, providing much-needed treatment to patients and also providing jobs and housing to servicemen and their families.
The village surrounding this hospital is now a thriving community which still supports the RBL to this day, producing 20 million Remembrance poppies every year.
Rehabilitation centres
RBL has funded many rehabilitation centres to provide much-needed support to veterans and members of the Armed Forces. Their services include wellbeing courses, and a whole host of activities aimed at building camaraderie such as:
- Archery
- Mountain biking
- Wheelchair basketball
They have also part-funded The Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre which houses the Royal British Legion Complex Trauma Gym, open for patients to participate in fitness activities which aim to increase their mobility and help them to regain independence.
COVID-19 support
More recently, RBL have been supporting the Armed Forces community during the COVID-19 pandemic. To help with a dramatic increase in calls for accessing food, RBL extended their Benefit, Debt and Money Advice Service. Another vital service utilised during the pandemic has been RBL’s Telephone Buddies scheme, which offers companionship and support to anyone feeling lonely or isolated.
Since 1921, the RBL has gained 180,000 members and 110,000 volunteers, making them the nation’s largest Armed Forces charity.
Working hard to ensure that the Armed Forces community have a voice, they communicate with members of parliament and officials to establish the representation the community deserve. Transitioning to civilian life can be difficult for ex-serving personnel and that’s why RBL continue to be there to provide lifelong support to them and their families, offering advice and guidance but also rehabilitation and recovery activities.
RBL’s Partnership with The Westminster Collection
Since 2004, The Westminster Collection has been honoured to produce annual poppy coins in collaboration with the Royal British Legion. From Brilliant Uncirculated coins, to intricate Masterpiece coins, these are one-of-a-kind designs and are as unique as they are beautiful.
Over the past 17 years, collectors have shown their support to the RBL through purchasing these annual coin designs to take pride of place in their collections. 10% of any sales are contributed directly to RBL to support their vital work with the Armed Forces community.
We would like to thank our collectors for continuing to show their support to the RBL and help them to provide financial, social and emotional support to all who have served and are currently serving in the British Armed Forces and their families.
The 2021 Poppy Coin Collection
In this milestone anniversary year a new, very special design has been issued to commemorate RBL’s centenary.
The design perfectly illustrates RBL’s centenary year, featuring the 1921 RBL Poppy alongside the iconic modern day poppy. The reverse also includes the messages ‘We will remember them’ and ‘100 years’.
‘We will remember them’ was chosen because it is a significant line taken from the poem ‘For the Fallen’ written by Lauren Binyon in 1914. ‘For the Fallen’ endures as a dignified and solemn expression of loss.
This year’s design brings both the past and present together, acknowledging all of the outstanding work the Royal British Legion has done throughout the past 100 years – and will continue to do so for many more.
If you’re interested…
Take a closer look at this year’s coins in the video below, and if you’d like to own one of this year’s commemorative Poppy coins you can shop the complete range here >>
TROTTERS INDEPENDENT TRADING CO. SPECIAL – Brand new Only Fools and Horses Commemoratives released
On the 8th September 1981 over 9 million people sat down at their televisions to watch a brand new show called ‘Only Fools and Horses’. Little did we know that this show would one day become one of the top British television programmes of all-time.
Over a total of 10 years, 7 series, 64 episodes and 16 Christmas specials we followed the trials and tribulations of ambitious market trader Derek ‘Del Boy’ Trotter (played by David Jason) and his idealistic younger brother Rodney Trotter (played by Nicholas Lyndhurst) in their attempts to get rich! Supported by a cast of colourful characters including Grandad, Trigger, Boycie and Uncle Albert.
This time next year we’ll be millionaires…
No other TV show has influenced British culture as much. Critically and popularly acclaimed, the series received numerous awards. It was voted Britain’s Best Sitcom in 2004 and in a BBC poll Del Boy was ranked fourth on their list of the 100 Greatest TV Characters.
Its success spawned a successful spin-off series, ‘The Green Green Grass,’ a Sport Relief special episode guest starring David Beckham, and even a musical adaptation of the show was created which launched at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in London’s West End!
The final episode in which the Trotters finally became millionaires was watched by 24.3 million viewers and holds the record for the highest UK audience for a sitcom episode.
So to celebrate the 40th anniversary of one of Britain’s greatest TV shows a number of brand new officially licensed Only Fools and Horses Commemoratives have been released… ‘lovely jubbly’!
‘Triffic’ BRAND NEW Only Fools and Horses Commemorative Set
Officially licensed by the BBC each commemorative in this set has been struck to a proof-like finish and features a design of some of the most popular characters from the programme; including, Del Boy, Rodney Trotter, Boycie, Trigger, Grandad and Uncle Albert.
Limited to just 9,995 collectors worldwide, this is one of the only ways you can own all 7 commemoratives. They will arrive protectively sealed in an official presentation pack.
This complete set is a MUST-HAVE for any Only Fools and Horses Fan and is available for your collection today for JUST £39.99 (+p&p). Click here to secure yours >>
The Only Fools and Horses SUPERSIZE Commemorative!
This NEW Supersize Only Fools and Horses Commemorative has been expertly finished in antique silver and features a most intricate design of Britain’s most beloved three-wheel car – the Reliant Regal! It has then been carefully finished with the addition of vivid colour – to really bring the ‘Trotters Independent Trading Co.’ car to life!
But, JUST 995 will be released for collectors worldwide! That makes it 10 TIMES more limited than the complete commemorative set and therefore one of the most limited ways in which you can own a commemorative for the 40th Anniversary.
Arriving in a Deluxe Presentation Case with a Certificate of Authenticity, uniquely numbered with your place in the edition limit, this is the perfect way to remember such an iconic show. Click here to secure your SUPERSIZE Only Fools and Horses Commemorative now >>
Don’t miss out. As Del Boy would say, ‘He who dares, wins! He who hesitates…don’t.’
‘Bonjour.’
FIRST LOOK: Unboxing Alice Through the Looking-Glass Silver Proof 50ps
Today’s video is a special one, as I give you an exclusive FIRST LOOK at the Alice Through the Looking-Glass Silver Proof 50p collection.
Issued to celebrate Lewis Carroll’s literary classic ‘Through the Looking-Glass, and what Alice found there’, today’s new release follows in the footsteps of these Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland 50p coins that quickly became one of the most popular coins releases of the year.
And In the video I’ll reveal exactly what you’ll find inside of the limited edition Silver Proof collection that only 1,995 collectors can own!
If you’re interested…
