I ALSO collected poppy petals in the war years, along with other village children all under 11 years.
One large carrier bag each taken to Raimes & Co, Micklegate, York, each morning before 8.30am. We got 2/6 per bag.
I also got one shilling if I took a friend’s bag. I felt very rich. The money went on saving stamps sold in our village hall by the vicar’s wife, Mrs Auden.
For years I wondered what poppies were used for, then 50 years on Mr Moses came to play the organ at Askham Bryan Church and I got my chance to find out. He was the gent that weighed them at Raimes & Co. His answer was “they were used for colouring medicine children don’t like, also they were unable to get cochineal.”
What memories.
Mary Carbert, Main Street, Askham Bryan, York.
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