AFTER raising almost £280,000 for the Royal British Legion last year, the annual Gwent Poppy Appeal was launched at Newport's Civic Centre yesterday afternoon.

Despite a drizzle of October rain, members of the public, Newport council, the Royal British Legion (RBL) and 104 Regiment Royal Artillery gathered on the steps of the Civic Centre near a giant red poppy laid out on the grass opposite.

To kick start proceedings, the mayor Cllr Matthew Evans bought a poppy from RBL youth member Cadet Morgan Jones, aged 13, of the Band of Gwent and Powys Army Cadet Force, dressed in the uniform of the Welsh Guards.

The Exhortation was said by the vice-chairman of Gwent County RBL, Steve Pennells, and the Last Post was sounded by the County bugler Dave Jones.

A two-minute silence during which the Standards of Gwent County, Newport RBL, Gwent Youth and Women’s Sections were dipped took place before the Reveille was sounded followed by the Kohima Epitaph: "When you go home, tell them of us and say, for their tomorrow, we gave our today."

Cllr Evans told those gathered: "It is now our turn to help those members of the armed forces family who have suffered as a result of their service of our country."

Morgan, a pupil of King Henry VIII Comprehensive School in Abergavenny, joined the RBL to follow in the footsteps of his father, fundraiser and Gwent Poppy Appeal coordinator Mike Jones.

"I wanted to join to help injured servicemen and women," he said.

Mr Jones, who has been a member of the RBL for 26 years, said during 2014/15 he wants to raise more funds than ever - and that pot of cash has already been started with a £3,200 donation from your Argus.

The donation represents 25 per cent of the sponsorship and advertising carried in our special Gwent’s Great War supplement, which was published in August to mark the centenary of the start of the First World War.

Argus editor Kevin Ward said: “We’d promised to make a sizeable donation to this year’s Poppy Appeal as part of our coverage of the First World War centenary and I’m delighted we were able to kickstart the appeal with such a large sum of money.

“My thanks go to the sponsors and advertisers who helped make the Gwent’s Great War publication possible.”

Mr Jones said of the donation: "I was absolutely delighted to accept such a large sum of money donated by the Argus, it was a very generous gesture. It's been put into the bank already. What a brilliant way to start the Poppy Appeal for 2014/15."

Next month on November 16, a 'Poppy Fish' fly fishing event will take place at Cwm Hedd lakes in Bassaleg from 8.30am to 2pm to raise funds for the Poppy Appeal.

Entry paid in advance costs £30 to include a three-fish ticket and a bacon roll as well as tea or coffee on arrival.

For more details call Mr Jones on 07875 089933.