A GREAT grandfather from York who was a Poppy Appeal organiser for nearly 20 years and helped raise half a million pounds for the annual collection has been nominated for a Community Pride Award.

Richard Shaw, 76, of Anson Drive, Fulford, stepped down last year after 18 years in charge of the annual fundraising drive for the Royal British Legion’s Fulford and District Branch.

He used to take three weeks’ unpaid holiday each year from his job in security at Imphal Barracks to organise the annual appeal in the Fulford and District area.

During his time as an organiser for the appeal, he helped raise a staggering £500,000.

He has been nominated for a Community Pride Charity Fundraiser of the Year award by the branch’s chairman, Cliff Lawrie.

Cliff said: “Richard was instrumental in the organising and planning and support to the branch and members enabling the sum of £500,000.

“Richard has taken the yearly appeal from raising approximately £8,000 to in excess of £34,000. Without his devotion the branch would not be appeal to achieve what it has.”

Richard, who has three children, seven grandchildren and three great grandchildren, is delighted to be in the running for a Community Pride Award.

Speaking about his time as a Poppy Appeal organiser, he said: “I enjoyed it. When you get into it, it is hard to stop. You meet a lot of people.

“It is a fantastic feeling to have helped raise £500,000. You are helping so many people, even though you don’t know who they are.”

Richard, who was in the Army from 1959 to 1981, serving as a sergeant with the Royal Tank Regiment, settled down in Fulford on leaving the Army and joined the legion in the early 1990s.

He was appointed the appeal organiser in 1998.

The Community Pride Awards are run by The Press in partnership with City of York Council and the primary sponsor is York-based healthcare organisation Benenden.

All nominees must live in, or contribute to life in, the City of York Council area.

Three finalists from each category will be invited to the awards ceremony at York Racecourse in October, when the winners will be revealed.

Entries can be submitted to York Community Pride Awards, The Press, 84-86 Walmgate, York YO1 9YN.

You can also nominate online at yorkpress.co.uk/communitypride.

The closing date for entries is Friday, July 21.

You must include a supporting statement of no more than two sides of A4 with each nomination, and may include a picture, which unfortunately we will be unable to return.