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Black on red plague A SECOND plague of insects, black weevils, are attacking plants and bringing devastation to the environment p5
AKIRA on home run
ANIMAL CHARITY AKIRA has moved closer to securing a site to build a rescue shelter after presenting its plans to local politicians p6
Issue 683
16-22 NOVEMBER 2012
‘Vampires’ steal Poppy boxes
Strictly fabulous Guys and Dolls
by Jack Troughton
p50
The end of the “Golden Age” ON WEDNESDAY, against Sweden, Gerrard skippered his nation to his 100th cap, in a moment of personal celebration and widespread acclaim and joined an elite group p62
Roger Dawes
CALLOUS THIEVES – branded “vampires” by one outraged shop-keeper – have preyed on the Royal British Legion’s 2012 Poppy Appeal collection boxes. The thefts in the run up to last Sunday’s emotional Remembrance Sunday services along Spain’s east coast have sickened members of the public and were described as both “despicable” and “disgusting”. Last year, the annual appeal raised a record 134,000€ across the 20 branches of the Royal British Legion making up Spain District North – supporting the £1.7 million needed by the charity each week to help ex-servicemen and women and their families. On the Costa Blanca, three of the distinctive red collection tins left in bars, restaurants and shops were stolen from Javea premises. RTN was told: “It just makes you want to weep.” And during the 91st Poppy Appeal, people have also been left shocked by a spate of thefts across Britain and as far away as Canada. Roger Dawes, Chairman of the Le-
gion’s Javea Branch, said collection boxes had been stolen from the Cancer Care Charity Shop, The Original Charity Shop, and the newsagent Humpty Dumpty – one tin, stolen from Cancer Care, was found abandoned and empty nearby, close to the three premises. He said: “How low can people be. This money is collected each year to help those who have served in the Armed Forces and their dependents, who need help. That some low life thinks their need is greater is hard to comprehend. GALL “And what is galling is that individually these collection boxes don’t contain a lot of money – it is only when they are all collectively gathered in from over 100 outlets by our branch members it becomes significant.” He added he was aware of the thefts in the UK that made national news in Britain. “Unfortunately, there are a lot of nasty people out there, it is absolutely disgusting.” Continued on page 3