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Retired firefighter's poppies go international

Listen on Sounds: Kelvin Chell describes just how popular his Staffordshire themed poppy badges have become

A volunteer raising money for the Royal British Legion said he was shocked to receive orders for his Staffordshire-themed poppies from the USA and South Africa.

Kelvin Chell expects to exceed last year's total of nearly £14,500 after selling 1,000 of his latest design on the first day.

Mr Chell has 10 different badge designs, including poppies beside a miner's lamp and a colliery.

"Staffordshire is a mining community," he said, "I didn't realise how far this mining community goes throughout the world."

Three poppy pin badges are stacked in clear display cases. They sit on the floor of a fire station, with a fire engine visable in the background. The poppy badges include a spitfire plane, the coats of arms of Stoke-on-Trent and a combination design consisting of a spitfire, bottle kiln and a duck on a lake
One of the designs includes an image of the Spitfire RW388 displayed in The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery

Mr Chell retired from the fire service two years ago after serving for 50 years, during which time he was always active in raising money for charities.

"I am immensely proud of the work that Kelvin and his team have delivered," said Chief Fire Officer, Rob Barber.

"We are especially committed to supporting our armed forces and their veterans via the Royal British Legion."

The customised Staffordshire poppies were first made in 2020, with the first design including a Staffordshire Fire & Rescue Service cap badge.

Kelvin Chell Three men stand in the reception room of a fire station holding a giant cheque. The cheque is made out to the Royal British Legion for £14,429.54. The man on the left is bald and wearing a jumper with a fire service emblem on his left breast and a name badge on the right. In the middle, a man has one hand on the cheque in a green wax jacket and green jumper. The man on the right is wearing a black suit, white shirt and a stripped tie.Kelvin Chell
Andy Nelson (right) from the RBL receiving last year's cheque from Chief Fire Officer Rob Barber (left) and Mr Chell

Each year since, Mr Chell has developed new designs related to Staffordshire culture.

"Everybody in Stoke calls everybody 'duck'," he explained, pointing to his most unusual design.

"I approached a few people, one being a war widow, to see if she thought it was appropriate to put a duck on a poppy and she fully endorsed it."

The poppies are sold from over 40 local businesses across the county and have proved extremely popular again this year.

"People are hunting them down," he chuckled, "They're chasing from shop to shop, pub to pub, in the hope they'll just find the one in their collection."

The poppies are priced at £3.50 each and all profits go to the Royal British Legion.

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