JUDGE Rinder says our Armed Forces are the best example of what is great about Britain.

       And he is calling on everyone to buy a poppy and back The Sun’s appeal to help the Royal British Legion support tens of thousands on servicemen and women in need.

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       Judge Rinder says: 'Many of us still have a connection to the last great generation who stood between us and tyranny' Credit: BNPS

       The TV personality and Sun columnist said: “The poppy is personal to me but it should be personal to all of us.

       "Many of us still have a connection to the last great generation who stood between us and tyranny.

       “Fascism is a word that gets bandied about but only that generation truly knew what it meant to touch the face of tyranny.

       “Every generation of servicemen and women represent the absolute best of who we are as a nation.”

       Lawyer Rob first came in contact with the Armed Forces when he defended a soldier.

       He said: “Like many people I didn’t necessarily know a great deal about what our Armed Forces did until I found myself representing a Guardsman.

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       "It changed my entire view and I was invited in to the world of the military at every branch.

       “What we forget is that servicemen and women have families who worry and care about them.

       “Within our own lifetime those men and women have fought to keep us safe. They have risked their lives on behalf of all of us.

       “They do the difficult work on behalf of our democracy. How quickly and how easily we take them for granted.

       “I have just come back from the US, where veterans have their own cabinet minister, where people stand aside in queues to allow them to go the front.

       “And yet all our British Forces ask of us is that we remember them, to ensure their sacrifice is not forgotten.”

       The Royal British Legion — the charity which helps Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force veterans and their families — is trying to raise ￡43million from its annual poppy appeal in 2021.

       Every generation of servicemen and women represent the absolute best of who we are as a nation.

       Rob Rinder

       Last year Covid cost the organisation ￡20million in lost donations as street collections stopped.

       This year 40,000 collectors will be out there selling poppies.

       The charity is urging people to buy a poppy from a collector or donate online, right.

       The RBL spends ￡60million a year helping 100,000 ex-servicemen and women and their families.

       Judge Rinder, 43, added: “Those men and women have taken the greatest risks for every single one of us, regardless of where they come from.

       “And increasingly, our Armed Forces come from every community.

       "They are the best example of what his great about Britain.”

       Plenty of ways to help reach ￡45 million

       GENEROUS Sun readers got this year’s poppy appeal off to a flying start.

       The weekend was the first time poppy sellers have been out in force since Covid.

       And they said donations are above what they anticipated.

       Many of the 40,000 poppy sellers now carry bank card readers.

       A spokesman said: “A lot of collectors say donations made over the weekend were higher than expected. The appeal is off to a great start.”

       Your help is needed more than ever after the ￡20million shortfall in 2020 as Covid hit street collection.

       The RBL wants to raise ￡45million to be able to give assistance to more than 100,000 British servicemen and women.

       Poppies are in 12,000 stores, including Tesco, Asda and Waitrose.

       Anne-Marie Cobley, 48, from Newport, South Wales, is delighted to be back collecting.

       She said: “I’ve listened to stories from some of the people who have been supported by the RBL and you can’t help but cry when you hear them.

       "With the Poppy Appeal you really know the money is going to the right place.”

       Lance Corporal Ashley Martin, 27, of the Royal Army Medical Corps, is collecting again in London.

       He said: “I received support from the Legion in 2018 and know how important the RBL is for the Armed Forces community.

       “I’m so proud to raise money for the Poppy Appeal and excited to be back collecting in person again after we weren’t able to last year.”

       Poppy pride

       How to donate: Poppy collectors will be on the streets and in 12,000 stores.

       City poppy days: Birmingham & Leeds: Today; Manchester: Tomorrow; London: Thurs Nov 4; Cardiff & Bristol: Tues Nov 9.

       Armistice Day: Thurs Nov 11.

       Remembrance Sunday: Nov 14.

       Donate online at rbl.org.uk/poppyappeal.

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       Lance Corporal Ashley Martin says: 'I’m so proud to raise money for the Poppy Appeal and excited to be back collecting in person again after we weren’t able to last year' Credit: Charlie Clift 4

       Anne-Marie Cobley says: 'With the Poppy Appeal you really know the money is going to the right place' 4

       Rob says: 'Every generation of servicemen and women represent the absolute best of who we are as a nation' Credit: Rex

       Gary Lineker backs Poppy Appeal and encourages football fans to buy shirts worn by Kane and Ronaldo