A FILM which follows the past five years of “everybody’s hero” Ron Jones’ life will be unveiled on Armistice Day.

The Poppy Seller - The Story of an Accidental Soldier - a film which was set up by friends Steve Horton and Francis Jones - tells the story of the 100-year-old service during the and his years in Auschwitz and also follows his day to day life and frequent appearances in the media.

Steve Horton originally started filming Ron Jones eight years ago after being introduced to him at a Newport County football match before meeting fellow filmmaker Francis Jones. The pair then joined up to start company Somerton Films and have been filming Mr Jones for the past five years.

Mr Horton, who had been filming Ron for around three years before filming for the documentary began in earnest, said: “I think his story is extraordinary, along with billions of others from the Second World War, but his is very important.

“The extraordinary thing about Ron is that he talked about it whereas many people did not speak about it.

“Ron’s story represents millions of other people’s stories that never got told - that’s why its really important.

“He is such a nice chap, you want him to be your granddad and he is sort of everybody’s granddad and hero.

“I think he’ll still be selling poppies for many years to come.”

Francis Jones, who set up Somerton Films with Mr Horton, said: “It has been amazing to work with Ron for so many years. He’s a brilliant man and when you’re filming with him you have so much admiration for him.

“He will easily talk about what happened to him in Germany without batting an eyelid but it was when he spoke about his late wife Gwladys that he became rather emotional which did make us all emotional as well.”

Ron Jones is the oldest poppy seller in the UK and has been selling them for more than 30 years.

Mr Jones was a prisoner of war in the Nazi death camp Auschwitz while serving in the 1st Battalion of the Welch Regiment during World War Two. 

He was captured in 1943 in the Middle East and after nine months in Italy was transferred to forced labour camp E715, part of the Auschwitz complex.

The Auschwitz survivor has received numerous nominations for his work selling poppies for the Royal British Legion’s annual Poppy Appeal. He will also be presented with a British Empire Medal (BEM) on November 8.

The Poppy Seller: the Story of an Accidental Soldier will be released on Armistice Day at 12pm.

It will cost £2.50 to view online or download, with £1 from every transaction going to The Royal British Legion. To watch the film - visit goo.gl/NnJZjd

You can join a social media campaign or ‘thunderclap’ to promote Ron’s film here: http://bit.ly/2zaD0rR