A former member of the ATS, Margaret began selling poppies more than 60 years ago and she's still selling them today. She is credited with reviving the Legion's Pickering branch after she and her late husband, Jack, moved to the town in 1983.

It continues to flourish and has since taken Thornton-le-Dale under its wing. Margaret, of Mill House in Pickering, said: "When we came to Pickering in 1983, branch membership had decreased and its premises in Champley's Yard were in the process of being sold. "We succesfully challenged the authority to sell it and set about building up the branch and running regular coffee mornings to keep our heads above water."

The converted cottage in Champley's Yard is more than 100 years old and has just undergone a major re-furbishment costing about £14,000. Margaret said: "We got a small grant from Legion headquarters in Pall Mall for the work and the rest we raised ourselves.

"It had to be done but there was more involved than we'd thought. There had never been a damp proof course, because it was such an old property and when the contractors started on the floor, they found they had to take it up completely and replace it and we've had to have a new staircase and sink put it.

"But everybody has been absolutely fantastic and the work is now done." The branch headquarters will be open for the three days of the War Weekend for visitors to pop in for a chat, a coffee and a biscuit.

Meanwhile despite an arm injury, Margaret, who is branch secretary and received a special commendation from North Yorkshire's Royal British Legion in recognition of her outstanding service, will be out and about on the streets of Pickering once again over the weekend rattling her tin and giving out poppies.