I FELT the urge to write when I saw the beautiful pictures taken by your photographers (Poppy Love, The Press, July 9). It stirred a lot of memories from 1943.

There was an advert in the then-Yorkshire Evening Press – “Poppy petals wanted, to be taken to Bleasdale”; at that time this was in Micklegate, York.

The only way I could have any money was to earn it, so I picked poppy petals for five hours. The journey from home to the field and back was four miles.

I was attending Knavesmire Girls School.

I caught the 8am bus, took my brown carrier bag, equivalent to the ones they give you in the big shops, to Bleasdales. They weighed them and gave me five copper coins.

I felt rich, but I had to explain to my teacher after arriving ten minutes late (sorry, the bus was late).

I would like to know what they were used for; also, did any readers do this kind of thing to earn a little money?

Joan Long, Kingfisher Drive, Bridlington.