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Royal Marines abseil into Waterloo for 'Poppy Day'

PA Media A member of the Royal Marines abseils at the launch of the Royal British Legion's London Poppy Day, at Waterloo Station in London. The image shoes a Royal Marine with a green beret and a large model of a red poppy attached to his back. He is holding a rope and looking down.PA Media
Ben Whitley/PA Two smiling men in RAF uniforms greet passengers at Waterloo. They are both heavily decorated with medals. One of them has a basket containing poppies around his neck, whilst the other has a red collection bucket. A passenger in a blue jacket is paying for a poppy on a card reader.Ben Whitley/PA
Royal Marines abseiled from the ceiling at Waterloo Station in a fundraising stunt
Serving personnel are hoping to raise £1m from poppy sales

Royal Marines have abseiled into Waterloo Station to help launch The Royal British Legion's (RBL) London Poppy Appeal.

Around 3,000 serving armed forces personnel are selling poppies in London on Thursday in the hopes of raising £1m for the RBL's Poppy Appeal.

The event, which is Europe's biggest one-day street collection, saw military bands perform for commuters at major stations. It was the 19th annual fundraising "Poppy Day" in London.

Rob Rinder, who joined collectors, said: "The poppy isn't just a symbol of remembrance, it's a sign of gratitude and unity, a reminder that our freedoms were bought at great cost, and that we each have a part to play in caring for those who served."

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