Okehampton’s Poppy Appeal officer has lifted the lid on the work done by a small group of volunteers each autumn to prepare for Remembrance Sunday.

Karen Hutchings has revealed what she, her son and other volunteers do behind the scenes to put together the paper poppy boxes, and personalise each poppy wreath in time for the Remembrance Sunday parade.

She said: “The boxes arrive flat packed and we then put together, fill them with the paper poppies, the lapel pins, crosses etc.

“We then allocate each poppy box and collection tin with a number before delivering them together. This means we know where each tin has gone.”

So far this year the volunteers have put together and delivered 72 boxes to organisations in and around Okehampton.

Karen added that she is also responsible for ordering some of the wreaths herself, and together with her son, personalises each wreath centre by printing out and laminating the organisation’s design free of charge.

Volunteers then place the finished wreaths outside St James Chapel the night before the parade ready to collect in the morning.

Karen added: “I’m thankful to have Lisa Fortune –the chairman of RBL club – on board with me, Kevin from Belstone and anyone else I can rope in at the time helping me.

“This does not include the fabulous job the Army and air cadets do for the Poppy Appeal each year.

“Thank you Mark also for allowing us to take over the window of Donalds Menswear for a week or two. Lastly, thank you to all of Okehampton for supporting me each year to raise funds for the Poppy Appeal and to help us remember them.”

This year the parade will include a lorry with a “special” design which will be revealed on the day.