'Too old' veteran to sell poppies

A D-Day veteran told he would be unable to sell poppies next year because he will be too old, is to be allowed to carry on his voluntary work after all.

Harry Billinge, 84, from St Austell, Cornwall, said he was told by Royal British Legion staff they could not get him insured aged 85 or over.

Mr Billinge said he was "upset" that it might affect his collecting.

The legion said its corporate insurance only covered people to 85 but special cases would be judged on their merits.

Mr Billinge, who is president of St Austell's branch of the legion, said he had been collecting for military charities for 50 years.

"I'd never had insurance in Normandy"

He said: "I was informed by one of the organisers. He was a very nice fellow but he said he'd heard that I have to be insured but I was too old.

"I was a bit choked. I've been doing it many, many years and it upset me."

He added: "I'd never had insurance in Normandy."

Lt Cdr Keith Naylor, the Cornwall county manager of the legion, said it was "one of these classic breakdowns in communication".

He said: "The poppy appeal organisers in St Austell mentioned in passing to Harry that the corporate insurance coverage group is 15 to 85.

"For people outside of that age, the legion takes the view that, if they're fit and healthy to carry on, and if they choose to carry on, there's not a problem and they'll take each case on its merits.

"A case in point is Harry Patch who was collecting right up to 111 when he sadly passed away.

"The last thing we would say to anybody is if they're good enough to collect and volunteer, we would always say 'yes, thanks and great'."

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