Army veteran hoping to raise more than £20,000 on 'Poppy Express' for Royal British Legion

Alongside his wife Barbara and a team of willing volunteers, Denis has tirelessly travelled between destinations including Hull, Doncaster, Selby, and London King’s Cross to fundraise for the Royal British Legion.

This year, the 74-year-old hopes to raise more than £20,000 for the cause close to the former Royal Engineer's heart.

GB News rode with Denis on the Hull Trains 'Poppy Express' from Retford to London.

He said: "The poppy represents obviously the First and the Second World War, but also the campaigns since then in Bosnia, Northern Ireland, Afghanistan, Iraq and the many other campaigns that have gone on since.

"Sometimes we've been peacekeepers, sometimes we've been on the offensive. It matters not - there are always people who not only get killed in action, but also have accidents, such as road accidents and working accidents.

"They've all got injuries, physical and mental, and they need the help of the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal."

A former Non-Commissioned Officer (sapper) with the Corps of Royal Engineers and later a police sergeant, Denis's dedication to the cause remains stronger than ever.

To mark 10 years of selling poppies on the trains, Denis and his wife Barbara took on a poppy selling marathon which saw them fundraising onboard Hull Trains and Lumo services from Retford to London King’s Cross, followed by Newcastle and Edinburgh and then all the way back again in the space of just two days.

At 531 miles from Retford to Edinburgh via London King’s Cross, Denis’s total journey covered more than 1,000 miles.

Richard Salkeld, Head of Communications and Partnerships for Lumo and Hull Trains, told GB News: "We're really proud to host the Poppy Express this year.

"It's also the 200th year of the modern passenger railway, so two very important anniversaries. But of course, fundamentally, we're doing this for the Royal British Legion, which is such an incredible charity.

"It's such an important time of the year as we head towards Remembrance. Denis has a phenomenal army of volunteers and Barbara, who is always by his side.

"He's got his train legs on, which is so important when you're walking through a train at 145 miles an hour, it can be a little bit tricky, especially when you're carrying the poppies and the credit card machine.

"But he comes prepared. He knows what he's doing. He's a professional. He's like one of our crew. In fact, we could offer him a job."

For the passengers, buying a poppy on the train is a novel experience for a worthy charity.

Anthony said: "It's important to realise that we wouldn't be where we are today without people's sacrifice."

Paul said: "It's important to remember the legacy of our forefathers and what's happened in the past."

Amy said: "My great-grandfather fought in the war, so it's really important to keep those memories alive and keep that for my children to remember as well."

Air Cadet Jack Driver said: "It's to keep the memory of the soldiers' experiences alive and make sure that future generations know how they saved us and ensured our future."

Layla Scott said: "They're ones who are helping us, so why can't we help them?"

Army veteran Denis Scaife started the ‘Poppy Express’ ten years ago with just his wife. It has now grown into an institution with 15 volunteers travelling along the East Coast Main Line to raise money every year.

Last year's efforts raised more than £15,000, with hopes that 2025 will exceed more than £20,000.

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