People in Moray increased their donations to the annual Poppy Appeal this year despite pressures on charities during difficult financial times around the UK.
Local appeal organisers have praised the Moray public who they revealed donated £18,000 to the appeal this year – £2000 more than was raised in 2012.
Former Gordon Highlander and chairman of the poppy appeal in Moray, retired Lieutenant Colonel David Broadfoot, thanked the public for providing him with a “humbling” experience.
He said: “I want to thank volunteers for all their hard work in achieving the target this year – but above all, thanks to all those who gave so freely in such tough economic times.
“All of us involved in collecting find it to be a very humbling experience. I would recommend it to anyone who feels that, as a nation, we may have become too self-centred because I can assure you that is not the case.”
The local campaign lost a driving force in the Moray branch earlier this year with the death of former chairman Johnnie Maclean, who through his 30-year involvement helped to raise over £300,000.