When should we start wearing poppies?

I am a Poppy Appeal door to door collector and the instructions were to start on Thursday 24 October so I started collecting on Thursday afternoon. Most people are very generous and pleased to see me even if they have already bought a poppy at the supermarket.

If I came across as unsympathetic in my post of yesterday I can say that is far from a fact. I was born before the start of the 2nd WW and was 8 when it ended and well remember the sacrifices made and the deprivations and hardships of ordinary families whose Fathers,Sons and Husbands were conscripted and taken away from loved ones. My Uncle was a POW of the Japanese and came back such a broken man that his whole family suffered and my Cousin commited suicide in his 40s as he never got over the very difficult family life they all lived with him. So yes ,along with all of you I will wear my poppy with pride.

I would love so much to be wearing a poppy . However they are not selling them round yet . What is that all about I ask , appalling IMO.

I've got a knitted one that I bought last year. They were selling them at our cinema when they showed the film of Private Peaceful. I'll wear it again this year but still buy one if I see them being sold. The poppy, to me is still the greatest symbol of the awefulness of war and the ongoing pain that is suffered by those affected by it, but also a symbol of hope as well. I never want al those young lives lost in the First world War to be forgotten .

It isn't appalling, Nonu, if they haven't got enough volunteers to sell the poppies. If you feel so strongly, why don't you volunteer?

I've found last year's poppy in a drawer, but don't worry, I'm not that cheap. I will buy another one two.

The thing that irritates me about TV presenters wearing poppies early is that we all know they are not doing it from choice but because they have been told to by producers etc. The news reader hasnt gone out and bought a poppy to support the troops, he's had one pinned on his jacket just before going on air by some studio lackey.

I shall buy a poppy when I see someone selling them, but feel the beginning of November is probably early enough to wear it for people in the public eye.

it is appalling that the poppies are not on sale in the shops !!
[hmmm]

It doesn't show any lack of support or respect not to be wearing a poppy in October. We always buy ours during the first week in November when they are on sale in our village shop. Failing that, they are available in garages and supermarkets. Just wearing one is what counts, not how early you rush out and buy it.

To me, it's a bit like Christmas, the meaning of it gets diluted. It's meant to be on 11th, and in my family poppies were bought and carefully looked after and pinned on our coats for that day. So I adhere to that custom.

MrsSB I would tend to agree with you although I'm certain there are presenters who wear their poppies for the right reasons too. It was all too obvious today where all the poppies worn by those on TV, even during the Indian Grand Prix, were pristine. Mine show obvious signs of being worn within an hour or so of being on my lapel. One would be forgiven for thinking that a picture of one was superimposed onto presenters shirts & jackets which of course is not so. At least they are wearing one I guess.

The women will all be wearing the blingy ones too.
Nothing wrong with that as long as all the money goes to the right people.

I bought one yesterday whilst our shopping and the lady selling them told me that Sat was the first day they had been allowed to sell them on the streets.
My daughter had bought one earlier in the week through her workplace.

Yes Anniebach. You are right about the political aspect of poppy wearing. Here in N. Ireland it is regarded by a proportion of the population as a representation of 'British Tyranny' and the wearing of a poppy at work is not permitted because it is regarded as a political symbol. Even wearing it in public in certain parts of the country is seen as inflammatory! All those thousands of Irish soldiers killed in the Somme and other wars seem to have been forgotten

I usually buy one to contribute but am cautious about wearing it. I like to be reminded of all those who have lost their lives in wars and those left to mourn. I have very vivid memories of my father weeping for his lost colleagues in the RAF every Remembrance Day.

Unfortunately, I live in a very damaged society here.

So sorry for the loss suffered by some of the Gransnetters. Heartbreaking.

Obviously, I shall not be buying a poppoy this year although I have bought and worn them in the past in support of the work done by the British Legion. However, I have never worn one with pride, only with deep sorrow.

absent Can't you get one through The Royal New Zealand Returned & Services Association they have lots of volunteers who sell them.

Because of my work I have access to archive papers, this does affect the wearing of the poppy for me, I do not wear it with pride, I wear it in gratitude of those who died and for the widows of the first war who were left to live in such poverty that many ended up in workhouses

I leave the pride to the generals , politicians etc who parade on Remembrance Sunday

Surely the whole point of poppy wearing is remembrance not pride.

Well said, Lona.

One can contribute to the work of the Royal British Legion without wearing a poppy. And the only "should" in my view is that judgements about other people should not be made based on the wearing or non-wearing of poppies.