Wing Commander David Forbes raising money for Royal British Legion's Poppy Appeal by walking 150 miles in November

The president of the British Legion in Rochdale, Wing Commander David Forbes DL MBE, is walking 150 miles throughout November to raise much-needed funds for the Royal British Legion's Poppy Appeal.

The Rochdale veteran, 81, has been walking several miles each morning since March, after battling a chest infection and cold around Christmas last year.

Mr Forbes then began walking at 6am each morning to improve his fitness, having had antibiotics and steroids to clear the illness.

Following a conversation with his daughter, Julie, Mr Forbes decided to raise money for the Poppy Appeal as “he would be walking the distance anyway” with Julie setting up a crowdfunding appeal.

He said: “It had to be for the Poppy Appeal.”

Initially Mr Forbes set a goal of 50 miles before 11am on Wednesday 11 November, but when speaking to Rochdale Online, he upped the ante, deciding to cover 150 miles over the month.

So far, he has covered just over 23 miles in four days and raised £275.

The Poppy Appeal is the Royal British Legion's biggest fundraising campaign held every year in November, during the period of Remembrance. The charity provides lifelong support to serving and ex-serving personnel and their families.

Julie wrote: “Dad is such active man who has volunteered tirelessly all his life for organisations such as the air cadets and our veterans which led to him receiving an MBE in 2017, which made us all unbelievably proud.

“From October through to December is usually his busiest time of year organising and taking part for Remembrance Sunday, he currently is the President of the British Legion in Rochdale, Vice President of the British Legion Manchester and the President of the Veterans Breakfast Club, which he is still working online to for fill his commitment.

“This year this has all been taken away due to COVID-19 there will be no Remembrance Sunday Parades and the lack of funds will affect the charity.”
 

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Mr Forbes usually leads the annual parade and service in Rochdale on Remembrance Sunday, opening with the Exhortation. After the Last Post, a two-minute silence and reveille, Mr Forbes then reads the Kohima Epitaph before prayers. He also lays a wreath alongside other representatives, and still plans to quietly lay a wreath this year.

Mr Forbes was born in Rochdale in 1939 and educated at Rochdale Technical School and College; he studied electrical engineering and served a five-year apprenticeship at Whipp & Bourne Ltd., finally becoming an electrical draughtsman.

In 1974 he joined Greater Manchester Council Street Lighting Department and became a Technical Sales Engineer in 1979 until retirement in 2005 and was appointed Fellow of the Institution of Lighting Engineers (FILE) in 2002.

He joined the Air Training Corps as a cadet in 1954, commissioned as a Pilot Officer in March 1963, appointed Squadron Commander of 2200 (Saddleworth) Squadron in 1966 and 2301 (Heywood) Squadron in 1970. He became a Wing Staff Officer in 1976 taking Command of East Lancashire Wing in June 1989 until retirement from uniformed service in March 1998.

Mr Forbes became the Civilian Committee Chairman of 1263 (Rochdale) Squadron from 1998 to 2006 and Wing Chairman 1998 until 2003 and was appointed Regional Chairman for the North of England and a Member of National Air Cadet Council in August 2006.

He joined the Royal British Legion in 1998 and became President of Rochdale branch in 2005 and Vice President of Greater Manchester County in 2002. He assisted in organising the Lord Lieutenants' Cadet Poppy Appeal Competition and has been a Member of the National Steering Group for the Poppy Appeal since 2003.

To donate, please visit:

• www.gofundme.com/f/walk-for-our-heroes