A QUARTET of women have taken on the Poppy Appeal in Rhyl and are set to deliver an incredible volunteering effort, raising money for the Armed Forces community.

Helen, Tracey, Diane and Margaret have put in tireless hours of preparation and are now gearing up to organise volunteers, who will be stationed at Sainsbury’s, Morrison’s, the White Rose Centre and Aldi, as well as many shops and businesses across the town centre.

This year’s Poppy Appeal will be launched by the Royal British Legion on Thursday, October 26.

The Royal British Legion can provide support in many ways from befriending services for those who are isolated, help with finances and housing, or recovery programmes after injury and illness.

All four are dedicated to raising awareness of the large military community in Rhyl, as well as remembering all those who have served and sacrificed across the UK.

Helen Jones is bringing all of her business acumen, garnered from 20 years’ experience, to lead the charge in organising Rhyl’s Poppy Appeal this year.

Having helped in previous years, Helen is now steering the ship and is a guiding light for the Rhyl Poppy Appeal team.

She said: “My first boss when I was 17 had served and had been part of the regiment that liberated Belsen in World War Two. I used to sit with him for hours and was so moved by it.

“I am really looking forward to it. We want to smash all the records!”

Tracey Jaycock, who was initially involved in the Poppy Appeal as community champion at Morrison’s, is passionate about contributing to the Royal British Legion due to her pride for her husband, Paul, who served seven years in the Welsh Fusiliers.

On a tour of Iraq, Paul and three fellow soldiers were hit by a suicide bomb.

With his three friends suffering from devastating injuries, Paul continued to go back to the site of the blast to help them all – an act of bravery which saw him mentioned in dispatches.

Paul now suffers from PTSD, something which has highlighted the importance of the Poppy Appeal to Tracey.

She said: “Until I was married to Paul, I don’t think I understood how difficult the remembrance time could be for him and his military family.”

Now in her seventh year of helping with the Poppy Appeal, Tracey is putting all her skills to use once more – with an extra helping hand provided by her nine-year-old son, Louis, who will help her man the stand at Morrison’s.

Tracey added: “He stands there with his dad’s medals in his hand. He loves it.”

Diane Owen, born and bred in Rhyl, worked for years as a teacher in Abergele, while nearly all of her family have served in the Armed Forces.

This includes Diane’s uncle, George, who died at Dunkirk at the age of 21 - his name is on the Cenotaph in Rhyl, and Diane and her cousin have visited his grave in Rouen.

She said: “We took his medal and pictures and put them on there. That’s why I want to do the Poppy Appeal. I’m the oldest of my generation in my family and I want to carry it on.”

Diane has plenty of experience to draw from for the Poppy Appeal, as following World War Two, her aunts used to sell poppies outside Marks & Spencer’s in Rhyl.

She has helped out for a couple of years with Rhyl’s Poppy Appeal with her late husband and 12-year-old granddaughter but is now set to take a more major role in this year’s Poppy Appeal.

She added: “It’s so interesting meeting people. I’ve heard so many tremendous stories!”

Margaret Elliott, chairman of the Royal British Legion’s branch in Rhyl, is set to take part in her third Poppy Appeal.

Originally from Doncaster, nearly all of Margaret’s family have served.

She said: “My family are military as far back as we can go. We are army or military police – all of us. I’ve got a love for the forces and wanted to support them all.

“My son was 18 years old when he went off to the Gulf War and I’ll never forget the huge effect it has all had on him.

“Now I’m retired, I’ve got more time to give the Poppy Appeal and I am really looking forward to it.

“It’s awesome. I just love the interaction with people. I love talking to the younger generation about it as well – passing on that message of remembrance.”