L-R: LCpl Brown + Pte Gilmore (both 2 Mercian Regiment), Dave Thompson (National Express coach National Control Centre manager), Matthew Davenport (RAF Cosford Radio School), Pratap Gurung (Queen’s Ghurka Signals) and Aydan Holden (RAF Cosford Radio School)
National Express has been supporting The Royal British Legion’s Birmingham Poppy Day today.
The Birmingham-based transport company provided free bus travel for the day to all poppy collectors. National Express also sent coaches to pick up personnel from RAF Cosford and bring them into Birmingham city centre to join in the collection.
Among the poppy sellers was Dave Thompson – an army veteran with 25 years’ service in the Royal Corps of Transport. Dave now works at National Express, managing the coach Network Control Centre in Digbeth.
Ben France, Head of Corporate Partnerships at The Royal British Legion, said: “Over 300 military personnel and many more civilian volunteers are collecting on the streets today for Birmingham Poppy Day. Without the support of National Express and their offer of free travel for collectors, we wouldn’t be able to raise thousands of pounds for this year’s Poppy Appeal and ensure the Legion is there through thick and thin for our Armed Forces, veterans and their families.”
The Armed Forces Covenant is a formal promise by a company to officially demonstrate their support for the Armed Forces. Six years ago, the Coach division of National Express was the first company in the UK to sign up to the Covenant.
Tom Stables, Managing Director of National Express UK, said: “Armed Forces personnel and their families do a great service to this country. It is right that companies like ours do what we can to help them. So we are very pleased to have been able to support the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Day in National Express’ home town of Birmingham.
“National Express employs many ex-services members and current reservists – at this time of year especially we want to recognise the significant contribution they make to our company and the country.”
