War hero 'too old' to sell poppies
A SECOND World War hero has been banned from selling Remembrance Day poppies after raising £140,000 over 50 years – because he is too old and needs insurance.
D-Day veteran Harry Billinge, 84, has been collecting money for military charities every year for five decades.
Harry, president of a Normandy Veterans' Association and a Royal British Legion branch chairman, has been told this year must be his last – as he will be uninsurable when he turns 85.
Great grandfather Harry – who turns 85 next September – was told the British Legion would not be able to afford the cost of the insurance. Harry, of St Austell, yesterday claimed he would like to "stick a bayonet up" whoever made the decision.
He fumed: "I fought the Germans on D-Day and many of my friends died protecting this country.
"We never had insurance fighting on those beaches.
"Now the health and safety mob want to disgrace their memory by bring in these ridiculous rules.
"The world has gone made. It's an outrage. I'd like to stick a bayonet up whoever came up with this nonsense."
Harry, who served as a sapper in the Second World War, was demobilised from the Army in 1946 and has collected poppy money ever since.
He travelled to Normandy in the summer as one of thousands of D-Day veterans who went to pay their repects to their fallen colleagues at the 65th anniversary of the landings in Northern France.
He went in full military uniform and wore a picture of the Queen on his chest after she was unable to attend.
But last week an official told him this would have to be his last year selling poppies – because he's too old.
Harry said: "This chap explained that, when I turn 85 I'd need insuring and they couldn't afford it.
"What a cheek. I've been selling poppies for 50 years and they try and tell me I can't do it any more. Harry Patch collected for poppies until he was over 100.
"There's never a day that goes by when I don't think of those poor lads who never came home from France. It still reduces me to tears today. I would be letting them down if I stopped selling those poppies."
Harry, who is married to Sheila, 74, is the president of the Royal British Legion in St Austell and president of Cornwall's Royal Engineers Association. He is also chairman of Cornwall's Normandy Veteran Association and each year lays a wreath at the war memorial in Truro.
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by Alan Rolls, Torquay
Sunday, November 15 2009, 6:56PM
“As a long time member of the R.B.L.,a contemporary of Henry Billinge, same age, E.T.O. and the Far East, could I please ask the R.B.L. the Question ?
¿What better use to put our annual subs to, than to use part of this very large sum in order to insure that he can carry on this vital work¿?”
by Harm, Holland
Saturday, November 14 2009, 12:57PM
“After yesterday¿s news from thisiscornwall.co.uk I had a chat with Harry Billinge on the telephone today.
He told me that the situation has changed. ¿I will keep on selling poppies until I am 185¿
¿It was all a misunderstanding¿, he said, ¿but we had some good publicity for charity¿”
by Harm Kuijper, Holland
Saturday, November 14 2009, 11:54AM
“Harry is a great guy. He made a lot of money for charity. Last year we helpt him selling poppies in Arromanches: 1 for 2 and 2 for 5. And we nearly sold all for 5! A shame when he is not allowed to do this anymore. See Harry selling poppies on www.nvafriends.nl”
by mjm, SE Cornwall
Friday, November 13 2009, 4:00PM
“Good on you Harry, just mention your Human Rights !!”
by Paul Richards, Cambodia
Friday, November 13 2009, 2:14PM
“I have read 17 comments all of which support Harry, no comments agree with him being banned from selling poppies.
Harry fought for democracy yet democracy is denied him.
I say get poppies Harry and sell them and ignore these petty minded bureaucrats, they are not worth their salt”
by karen, truro
Friday, November 13 2009, 9:10AM
“whats wrong with people? this man should be allowed to sell poppys no matter what his age. he done alot for us and the small thing he wants people won't allow him,its wrong. maybe the public could help raise the insurance money so he could carry on doing what he loves?”
by len hudson, st austell
Friday, November 13 2009, 1:24AM
“a man who cares so much about his country and his comrades should be able to sell poppies . hes is a very proud man who has collected enough money for them to be able to insure him . hope u win harry good luck i raise my hat to u”
by Rogers, St Austell
Friday, November 13 2009, 12:04AM
“I can believe im reading this i talk 2 harry most days of the week... hes out in the cold rain ...doing what he loves doing..... why and how someone would take this away from him !!! and prob give the job 2 someone that doesnt care or could give u a story like Harry does about the war!!! ive even made him cups of tea while hes been working in town, hes very fit and well for his age and this comes as a big shock !!!!! what people are running this?? no one could do the job like Harry!!!”
by Matthew Crook, Launceston
Thursday, November 12 2009, 11:09PM
“Disgusting! Fight for your country so your country can turn its back on you. Rest assured the ordinary citizens of this country support you not the litigation culture which blights so many of our cherished traditions.”
by Jon Quixley, Houston
Thursday, November 12 2009, 10:34PM
“Disgraceful and a saddening indictment of how far the UK has gone. The US treats Vets with huge respect and rightly so - Rue the day that Armistace Day gets shoved to one side...”