Annie Hallows, resident at Neville Williams House, has been selling poppies for 65 years and is showing no sign of hanging up her collection tin yet! She met her husband Jim in the war when she was in the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force and he was in the Royal Air Force. Jim’s brother was also in the Royal Air Force as a rear gunner and was shot down and killed on 11 November 1943.
After the war, Jim’s mother asked them to help with the poppy selling appeal. Every year, they would organise the street collections and take the poppies around the shops and pubs in Chester and surrounding areas. During the two weeks leading up to Remembrance Sunday, they would be on duty in supermarkets foyers with a display of poppies and outside Chester Cathedral. They also manned and organised ‘Poppy HQ’ in Chester.
Debbie Sigston, General Manager at Neville Williams House said: “After 65 years of devoted poppy selling, it seemed appropriate for Annie to continue her dedication to the Poppy Appeal now that she is a resident with us. It has been an important part of her life and the residents and family members have all appreciated being able to buy their poppies from Annie, who holds the cause so close to her heart.”