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For more than three decades, Catherine Curtis, 81, has been selling poppies for the Royal British Legion in France.

She moved to the country from Somerset with her husband Rodney, 83, a former Grenadier Guard, 36 years ago.

“The Poppy Appeal has been important to me for as long as I can remember, thanks to my parents talking about it and explaining,â€� she says. 

The fundraising campaign is run annually by the Royal British Legion to support its work helping members or former members of the armed forces community – including those in the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force as well as the British Army.

“Anyone who has served in the forces and who has received at least one week of salary from the UK, which could include Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­, can ask for help. A lot of Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ don't know that,â€� says Mrs Curtis.

While the main Poppy Appeal runs in the weeks leading up to Remembrance Day on November 11, in some areas of France it continues throughout the year because of the number of commemorative events that take place. 

'I asked to take a box of poppies with me to France'

Mrs Curtis, who settled in Saint-Aignan, Brittany, where she and her husband had a second home, became a Poppy Appeal organiser by chance. 

She had visited a shop selling them in Taunton during a trip to the UK to see her adult children and friends. 

“I asked if I could take a box to France. That was 32 years ago, and that first year we collected £25, which we sent to England. 

“Then we had a thank you letter saying we were now Poppy Appeal organisers in Brittany!â€� she says. 

Having started her Poppy Appeal fundraising in Brittany, it eventually expanded to include Normandy. 

Today, she focuses exclusively on Normandy, but has sent poppies and wreaths all over France by post. 

In the past, local businesses have been keen to get involved, and Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­, as well as Britons living in France, have proved to be strong supporters of the appeal.

“Several museums and bars in Normandy have been kind enough to help the appeal by taking boxes of poppies – we have a lot of support from Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ who are very generous when they donate,â€� Mrs Curtis says.

As well as selling poppies in various shapes and sizes, from lapel pins to reflective versions, Mrs Curtis sells wreaths and poppy-themed items ranging from tote bags to jewellery. All her proceeds go to the Royal British Legion.

“Each year, on June 6, I have a small poppy table in Ranville War Cemetery, near Caen, where I collect a fair amount for the appeal,� she says.

“Many friends take boxes of poppies to sell in their businesses and other places too. It is mostly thanks to them that last year we were able to send €10,000 to HQ and so far this year we have raised €4,845.11.�

As well as selling poppies, Mr and Mrs Curtis have, in the past, opened their home for fundraising events with themes such as the Mad Hatter’s tea party and Dad’s Army (the beloved British TV sitcom about the UK's Home Guard during World War Two). They have also held events to watch royal weddings and celebrate royal jubilees.

In addition, they have a 1944 Jeep, renovated by the couple’s son, which travels around Brittany and Normandy to various commemorations. Those to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day in 2024 were particularly memorable for Mrs Curtis.

“The events were very special to us, as we have been taking part in the beach landing ceremonies for 26 years now,� she says.

“Last year was the 80th anniversary ceremony at the British Normandy Memorial at Ver-sur-Mer, in which King Charles, the Queen and President Macron attended with a large contingent of veterans.�

As well as selling poppies, Mrs Curtis also sells France’s commemorative flower, the bluet, or cornflower (see below).

Since Brexit, it is no longer possible to order a poppy online from the Royal British Legion from the UK, but there are . 

In Paris they are available in Smith & Son (former WH Smith) and British churches. You can also .

France’s blue flower of remembrance

In France, the symbol of remembrance is the bleuet – the cornflower.

For more than 80 years, these flowers have been manufactured and sold by the National Office for Veterans and Victims of War to provide financial assistance to war victims, veterans and victims of terrorism.

Bleuets were created by two nurses using blue fabric reminiscent of the uniforms of French soldiers. The term bleuet was used to refer to the younger generation of French soldiers after 1917. They can be purchased around France .