Al Murray Shows Up to Help Turnham Green Poppy Sellers
Stand-up comedian and podcaster has been long-term supporter of veterans
Al Murray (left) with Cllr Gerald McGregor; Mark James; Tony Currie; Cathie James and Elisabeth Whittaker
Comedian and military history enthusiast Al Murray joined local volunteers outside Turnham Green tube station on Thursday 30 October to support the Royal British Legion’s annual Poppy Appeal. His presence gave a visible boost to Chiswick’s fundraising efforts ahead of Remembrance Sunday.
Known for his stand-up persona “The Pub Landlord”, shows of which are often previewed nearby at the Tabard Theatre, and his serious engagement with World War II history,he stood alongside fellow collectors organiser Elisabeth Whittaker to sell poppies and raise awareness. The station will host poppy sellers daily from 8am to 8pm until Sunday 9 November, with shorter hours on weekends and a 2pm close on Remembrance Sunday.
A long-time supporter of veterans, Al Murray has written extensively on military leadership and wartime decision-making. His books include Watching War Films with My Dad, Command: How the Allies Learned to Win the Second World War, and Arnhem: Black Tuesday. He also co-hosts the podcast We Have Ways of Making You Talk with historian James Holland, exploring lesser-known stories and campaigns from WWII. His advocacy for veterans includes work with Walking With The Wounded and the Army Benevolent Fund, particularly around VJ Day commemorations.
The Chiswick Poppy Appeal has returned to Turnham Green station this year, thanks to a grassroots effort led by Elisabeth Whittaker, who became a member of the Kensington and Chelsea RBL branch after struggling to find poppies locally. “I decided that something should be done in Chiswick – and am delighted at the support we’ve received so far,” she said.
She is regularly joined by Mark James—known locally as “the poppy man”—and Graham Peach, chairman of the Chiswick RBL branch and commanding officer of the Chiswick Sea Scouts.
Poppies are also available at schools, churches, shops, and Chiswick High Road’s Sunday markets. Last year, the Royal British Legion awarded grants to over 23,000 veterans and their families, supporting needs that have intensified during the cost-of-living crisis.
Volunteers interested in joining the appeal can contact Elisabeth Whittaker on 020 8995 9255.
A Civic Parade and Ceremony will take place on Remembrance Sunday 9 November in Chiswick. The civic party will assemble at 10:00am at the Chiswick Memorial Club, located at Bourne Place, W4 2EL. At 10:40am, the parade will depart from the club and proceed to the Chiswick Town Centre Cenotaph, where the formal Act of Remembrance will be held.
The ceremony will be attended by Mayor Councillor Amy Croft, Council Leader Shantanu Rajawat, Deputy Lieutenant Ms Rosi Prescott, and Opposition Leader Councillor Peter Thompson, among other dignitaries.
The Chiswick War Memorial. Picture: Friends of Turnham Green
St Michael & All Angels Church will hold its Remembrance Sunday Choral Requiem Mass at 9:55am. Attendees are asked to note the earlier start time. Following the service, the congregation will process to the Bedford Park War Memorial, located outside the Parish Hall, to observe the traditional two minutes’ silence.
Each November, the church highlights its historical connections to World War I and World War II, including the 128 names inscribed on its war memorials. Stories and photographs of those commemorated can be explored on the church’s WW1 Project website, which was developed with support from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
In 2025, the church is marking two significant anniversaries: 80 years since the end of World War II, and 110 years since 1915, with special remembrance of those listed on the WWI memorials from that year. An exhibition will be available both online and in the church, dedicated to the memory of David Beresford, who led the WW1 Project and conducted the original research.
St Michael’s Church on Elmwood Road will host a Remembrance Sunday service and attendees are asked to arrive by 10:55am to observe the Act of Remembrance at 11:00am, which will include the reading of Binyon’s Words, the sounding of the Last Post on a bugle, two minutes’ silence, and traditional prayers and reflections.
In addition, St Michael’s will hold a quieter Service of Remembrance for Loved Ones on Sunday 2 November, offering space for personal reflection ahead of the main commemorations.
Like Reading Articles Like This? Help Us Produce More This site remains committed to providing local community news and public interest journalism. Articles such as the one above are integral to what we do. We aim to feature as much as possible on local societies, charities based in the area, fundraising efforts by residents, community-based initiatives and even helping people find missing pets. We've always done that and won't be changing, in fact we'd like to do more. However, the readership that these stories generates is often below that needed to cover the cost of producing them. Our financial resources are limited and the local media environment is intensely competitive so there is a constraint on what we can do. We are therefore asking our readers to consider offering financial support to these efforts. Any money given will help support community and public interest news and the expansion of our coverage in this area. A suggested monthly payment is £8 but we would be grateful for any amount for instance if you think this site offers the equivalent value of a subscription to a daily printed newspaper you may wish to consider £20 per month. If neither of these amounts is suitable for you then contact info@neighbournet.com and we can set up an alternative. All payments are made through a secure web site. One-off donations are also appreciated. Choose The Amount You Wish To Contribute. If you do support us in this way we'd be interested to hear what kind of articles you would like to see more of on the site – send your suggestions to the editor. For businesses we offer the chance to be a corporate sponsor of community content on the site. For £30 plus VAT per month you will be the designated sponsor of at least one article a month with your logo appearing if supplied. If there is a specific community group or initiative you'd like to support we can make sure your sponsorship is featured on related content for a one off payment of £50 plus VAT. All payments are made through a secure web site. |