FALKLANDS hero Simon Weston joined war veterans at a luncheon to launch the annual poppy appeal in Kent. The former Welsh Guard addressed the 165 guests and spoke of the importance of the poppy appeal, now in it's eightieth year and its relevance in the current situation.

The event was hosted by the Kent County Royal British Legion at the Royal Engineers' newly-refurbished headquarters mess at Brompton Barracks in Gillingham. Among the guests was president of the British Legion and Lord Lieutenant of Kent

Lord Kingsdown, accompanied by his wife, Lady Rose Kingsdown, Bobby Neame, the High Sheriff of Kent, Tom Styles chairman of the British Legion in Kent, Anne Figg, president of the Kent British Legion women's section, and Edwin Boorman, chairman of The Kent Messenger Group of Newspapers and president of the Kent County Royal British Legion, who is also chairman of the Kent Messenger Group of Newspapers.

Mr Boorman introduced Mr Weston, who showed the guests two short films during his after dinner speech. The first was of his life in the military before he suffered 46 per cent burns in 1982 after being bombed by an Argentine plane while serving on the Sir Galahad. The second was of his long and hard recovery.

He told guests how he had coped with life after the Falklands War and how he gradually recovered with help from his former military colleagues and family. He spoke of the importance of the poppy appeal and how it helps and continues to help families of service men and women.

He said: "Without the poppy appeal, service people could not continue their lives.

"The legion does such a marvellous job and is a wonderful organisation. It provides for the families of those injured or killed at war - those sacrificing their own lives to save others.

"It's even more important now, in light of the events of recent weeks that we don't let our service men and women down when they need us. They are not letting us down as they risk their lives so don't let them down.

Let's make this year's appeal the best and most successful yet."

Speaking of the current situation, Mr Weston commented: "There are a lot of people sitting in their armchairs speculating on what should be done in Afghanistan. They are basing their opinions on what I feel has been lazy journalism and scaremongering.

"I'm not pretending to know what the world leaders know, but those of us who have been in the military will have a better insight into why the situation is being handled in the way it is."

Mr Boorman said: "It's lovely to hear from someone who has fought in the last 20 years.

"Our service men and women are about to fight again. We owe so much to our service people who go out there and risk their lives so we can have freedom and democracy. I hope you will support this year's appeal."