Air, Sea, Army and Fire Service cadet units from across the Coventry and Warwickshire area have been honoured by the Royal British Legion at a presentation evening in recognition of their outstanding efforts during the 2009 annual Poppy Appeal.

A total of Twenty-two cadet units had all actively participated in the 2009 Warwickshire County Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal collection raising a staggering £28,598.

The presentation evening attended by The Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire Martin Dunne and the Mayor and Mayoress of Nuneaton & Bedworth Councillors Tom and Sonja Wilson was held at the Bedworth Ex-Servicemen's Club, in Rye Piece Ringway, Bedworth, on Wednesday, 17th March.

Philip Wilson, the Royal British Legion's County Chairman, said: "This year twenty-two cadet units from the Air Training Corps, Army Cadet Force, Sea Cadets and Youth Fire Service took part in the Warwickshire County collection. It's so pleasing to see that the youth of today are doing their bit to help those who risked their lives in the service of their country. The Poppy Appeal is as relevant today as it was over 80 years ago when it started and the cold facts are that ex-servicemen, women and their dependants who commit their lives to the service of this country deserve all the help we can give them."

Instead of making a formal speech the Mayor of Nuneaton & Bedworth Councillor Tom Wilson decided to make a break with tradition and walked around the hall talking to representatives of all the different groups of cadets. During his walk around the Mayor chatted to the cadets about their units and discussed the value of being a member of the cadet forces and thanked them for the contribution they make to the Poppy Appeal.

Representatives from three Warwickshire and Birmingham Wing Air Cadet units; 8F (1st City of Coventry), 121 (Nuneaton), and 2028 (Southam) Squadrons attended the event and were all recognised for their contribution and received a Warwickshire County Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal Certificate of Appreciation which was presented by The Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire Martin Dunne.

Cadet Verdi from 8F (1st City of Coventry) Squadron took 1st place in the competition for the highest amount raised by an individual Air Cadet with his outstanding contribution of £424. 8F Squadron having collected a unit total of £3125 also received the award for the highest Air Cadet unit contribution to the 2009 collection with 121 (Nuneaton) Squadron taking 2nd place with £1637.

The highlight of the presentations came when Leamington Spa Army Cadet Force received the county competition trophy for the highest overall cadet unit collection with their staggering contribution of £6,582 and L/Cpl Davison of Leamington Spa also took the award for the highest amount raised by an individual Army Cadet with an astounding collection of £2142.

Following the presentations the Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire Martin Dunne gave a short address, during which he said, "We are indebted to these young men and women, and their leaders for their outstanding efforts towards the Poppy Appeal collections. I hope this yearly initiative can continue to raise the money we so desperately need each year to support the welfare of the ex-service community."

Lieutenant Commander Bob Stevens, Warwickshire County President of the Royal British Legion said, “The Poppy is the nation’s emblem of Remembrance and the Legion relies on the volunteers from the Cadet Forces who make a valuable contribution to the appeal which is greatly appreciated.