WHAT:

Birmingham’s first Poppy Day – The Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal 2013

WHEN:

7am-6pm Tuesday, November 5, 2013

WHO:

Five military bands plus soldiers, airmen, cadets, students and volunteers from business in Birmingham and the Midlands; on one day there will be an army of more than 300 volunteers who will be collecting for the Poppy Appeal throughout the city.

This will be a boost to regular volunteers and collectors who will continue to collect during the whole Poppy Appeal period.

WHERE:

There will be collections throughout the city and at the railway stations including New Street, Moor Street and Birmingham International and Birmingham Airport, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, National Express bus stations, the metro, on buses and at bus stops.

In the city from Snow Hill station, Colmore Square, St Philip's churchyard through to Victoria Square and surrounding streets and businesses in Birmingham city centre. There will be military bands playing around the city during the day:

The Band of The Parachute Regiment

The Band of The Parachute Regiment is currently based in Colchester and supports not only The Parachute Regiment but the rest of the Army as required around the world.

The band recently supported troops on Op Herrick, Afghanistan and music training with the Afghanistan National Army.

The Band of The Royal Signals

Although the band’s primary role is to provide a public face to the various units of the Corps, the Band of The Royal Corps of Signals are a versatile musical force able to compete with any similar organisation worldwide. The band has travelled extensively during its existence. Recent tours include USA, Canada, Hong Kong, and Europe.

The band’s repertoire comprises of a Marching Band, Concert Band, Jazz Orchestra and Dance Band as well as a number of smaller ensembles.

The Band Of The Royal Logistics Corps

The Band of the Royal Logistic Corps is based near Camberley, Surrey. It supplies musical support to the Royal Logistic Corps, the largest Corps in the Army, throughout the UK and overseas. The band was formed in 1993 by the amalgamation of the Bands of The Royal Corps of Transport and The Royal Army Ordnance Corps.

It is based at The Princess Royal Barracks near Camberley and is made up entirely of musicians from the Corps of Army Music. In addition to a broad commitment to support a large number of military events the Band has performed to the public all over the world in combinations ranging from solo trumpeter to full military band.

The Band has over the years performed in: Hong Kong, Australia, Cyprus, Norway, Belgium, USA, Germany, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia and The Falkland Islands.

The two ensembles which are quite small (They have five and seven musicians each respectively) are:

Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME)

Today the band’s expertise is seen and heard all over the world and it enjoys an outstanding reputation for musical excellence.

The band has visited the USA, Canada, Germany, Bosnia, Italy, Cyprus, Uzbekistan, Guatemala, Mexico, Moscow and throughout the whole of the United Kingdom.

Adjutant General’s Corps (AGC)

The Band of the Adjutant General’s Corps was formed in 1992 and is based near Winchester. The band’s current capability is based around contemporary music including, rock and pop music and Big Band music.

WHY:

While the Poppy Appeal runs from October 26 until Monday, November 11, The Royal British Legion and 143 (West Midlands) Brigade, under the command of Brigadier Gerhard Wheeler, are making November 5 the day everyone in Birmingham thinks about the Poppy Appeal.

The army of volunteers, to the accompaniment of five military bands, will be on the commuter buses, collecting at railway stations, flying into Birmingham Airport and creating smiles at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. They will be making office calls and filling the business district with music, poppies and moments when people think about why they wear their poppy.

The Poppy Appeal is the nation’s largest and most loved fundraising campaign in support of the Armed Forces and this year, The Royal British Legion is aiming to raise £37 million during the Appeal.

Every poppy helps to support the British Armed Forces past and present, and their families, by contributing towards the £1.6 million, over £83 million each year, needed by the Legion each week to deliver direct, practical care and support to the service community and to respond to over 170,000 calls a year for practical help, advice and support.

PROGRAMME