'It's been an extraordinary year': Skegness announces £42k Poppy Appeal total after sky-high tribute

It’s a figure that reflects a year when Skegness didn’t just honour remembrance – it launched it into the sky, quite literally, with 84,673 handmade poppies adorning the towering Altitude 44 high-wire attraction in a bold bid for a Guinness World Record.

And behind the steady stream of ideas, energy and cheerful mayhem? The Skegness branch of the Royal British Legion – with Poppy Appeal organiser Tracy Turner rallying the troops in her unmistakably spirited style.

"It really has been an extraordinary year for the branch,” commented Tracy, looking back at 2025.

The year began with the early launch of the Community Remembrance Project, supported once again by East Street Arts and the Hildreds Centre. The branch took up residency between two empty units, turning the space into a bustling community workshop where volunteers came together to help create and prepare the nets that would later dominate the Skegness skyline.

But the poppy project was just one chapter in a year packed with standout moments. Summer brought the much-anticipated celebrations to mark the VE and VJ 80th anniversaries. Glorious weather welcomed visitors to a vibrant 1940s event, complete with music, vintage charm and an unforgettable four-time Spitfire flyover that left crowds open-mouthed.

The branch’s reputation for thinking big continued when Skegness welcomed Big Ben – Europe’s tallest travelling amusement ride. Never ones to miss an opportunity, the branch filled all 32 seats with volunteers and supporters before releasing 360,000 biodegradable poppy petals from the very top. The poignant moment drifted across the seafront, watched by thousands.

In May, chairman Kev Woolley and Tracy, who is also the vice-chair, were invited to a Buckingham Palace garden party, where they met Prince Edward and His Majesty the King. It was a proud moment not just for them, but for the whole branch.

Then came October’s formal installation of the Community Remembrance Project, attended by the Royal British Legion Director General, the Lord Lieutenant of Lincolnshire, and an extraordinary representation of service – from WWII Burma Star veteran Fred Conway to newly passed-out 18-year-old Scott Adlington. Visitors also met Hettie, the lifesize war horse created by pupils from Skegness Academy, who stood tall in the Hildreds for a month.

Not even Storm Benjamin could dampen the town’s determination. Despite heavy winds, the display held strong, and Skegness went on to deliver what many called its best-ever Remembrance Parade, bolstered by excellent council support and sound equipment loaned by the Blue Anchor.

The branch capped off the year by appearing on national television for the second year running, taking part in the BBC Look North Children in Need Challenge, and becoming finalists in the 2025 Skegness Business Awards.

Now, as the nets are carefully dried and stored by Hooper Haulage, the branch prepares to submit its Guinness World Record attempt for the Largest Display of Remembrance Poppies – an extraordinary 84,673-strong reminder of a town that never does things by halves.

Tracy added: “We look forward to seeing what 2026 brings. We have welcomed many new members this year and welcome anyone who would like to join us.”