‘I’ve worked with some smashing people!’ Dedicated Spalding poppy seller rewarded for 60 years of service

A dedicated Poppy Appeal fundraiser has been rewarded for 60 years of service.

Spalding resident Cheryl Arnold began selling poppies door to door as a teenager, and is currently preparing to take her place at the Royal British Legion’s desk at Sainsbury’s this October to continue raising funds for a cause close to her heart.

Cheryl, 79, has been awarded her 60 year bar, to complement awards she has previously received for 30 and 50 years of fundraising.

“I’d just left school and my first boss told me he had just the job for me,” said Cheryl, recollecting how George Fieldsend introduced her to selling poppies when she worked at Spalding Bulb Company.

“He brought a poppy tray to go round and I wasn’t old enough to do it on my own, I was 16 then, so mum and I used to go together.

“In those days the whole town was covered door to door, so you were given an area and ours was Hereward Road, Edward Road and part of Pennygate.”

This was the beginning of a longstanding relationship with the Poppy Appeal, not just for Cheryl but her mum Kathleen Barsley, who continued to help out well into her 90s.

Cheryl, who now lives on Hannam Boulevard, described her work with the Poppy Appeal as ‘rewarding’ and fondly remembers the teamwork put in by volunteers to ensure funds were raised.

Friend Angela Newton, the late councillor and community stalwart, was a formidable force in encouraging fellow councillors to take on selling duties, once putting in a full day’s shift in Sainsbury’s to enable Cheryl to take Keith to a hospital appointment.

Cheryl continued her door to door selling of poppies until 1969 when the second of her three children were born.

With husband Keith working nights as a lorry driver it became impossible for the young mother to hit the streets in the evenings.

But she was soon convinced to return by then-Poppy Appeal organiser John Chester.

“The poppies used to come in bits those days, the leaf wasn’t attached so you had to take it apart to put the leaf on and put it back together,” added Mrs Arnold, whose family have military connections, including grandfather Joseph Barsley who fought at the Battle of the Somme during the First World War.

“And some had silver paper on, and they were a little bit more expensive.”

While some sellers continue to go door-to-door, Mrs Arnold can now be seen fundraising from the RBL’s spot in the Spalding Sainsbury’s store, for which she also organises the rota.

“You sit in Sainsbury’s for two hours and you see people you’ve not seen for years,” she added.

“Everybody stops to chat, and the kiddies come as well. It’s nice to get the kiddies. It’s great they’re brought up to know about the veterans.

“I’ve worked with some smashing people.”

Spalding RBL vice-chairman Jan Whitbourn paid tribute to Cheryl’s tireless fundraising.

“Cheryl started selling poppies door to door with her mother when she left school. She vividly remembers the cold wet November evenings that they spent collecting and later serving teas from the Black Hut on Swan Field after Remembrance Parades,” she said.

“Cheryl eventually joined the women’s section of the Royal British Legion, assisted the Legion Welfare officer and was a case worker for 12 years.

“I am sure that she could fill a book with fascinating stories of the characters she met and how things have changed over the years.

“Cheryl has co-ordinated the Poppy collection at Sainsbury’s which keeps her very busy during the two-week collection period.

“Yet, at the same time, she and a few helpers still manage to lay small wooden memorial crosses on most of the military related graves in Spalding Cemetery, culminating in a short annual parade at the cemetery when our wonderful cadets lay crosses on all the Commonwealth War Graves.”

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