Littlehampton woman’s dedication to the Poppy Appeal is praised

Daphne Snowdon, who lives at the Fire Fighters Charity’s Marina House, in Fitzalan Road, has been praised for her outstanding, 60-year service with the legion.

The disabled 74-year-old was presented with a 60-year service bar and the poppy workers merit badge for all her work, which over the years has raised thousands for charity.

Daphne said: “I was chuffed when I heard. It’s wonderful to be recognised.”

Daphne said she has had a ‘love affair’ with the legion for many years, first collecting for it at the tender age of 14 in London.

She married her late husband, Professor Len Snowdon, in 1959 – who had been a firefighter in Hull during the German bombing raids of the Second World War.

She also has strong links with the armed forces, with her father being one of those killed in the famous RAF Dambuster raids, and having many friends who were military veterans.

Daphne has had her fair share of heartache though.

In 1997 she was seriously assaulted, which left her faced scarred.

She has also been left wheelchair-bound and has trigeminal neuralgia which affects her face.

However, in spite of this, Daphne remains as upbeat as ever and passionate to help others.

“Life is a cricket match; I may be in the last over but the last ball hasn’t been bowled yet,” she joked.

Daphne, who has no children, has collected in Littlehampton for 17 years.

She loves history and hopes to visit Verdun, in France, later this year.