A four-year-old girl from Kenilworth was accompanied by her grandfather to lay the Poppy Appeal's wreath at the town's Remembrance Service this Sunday (November 14).

Sophie Cartwright was asked to lay the wreath after volunteering with her parents collecting money for the Kenilworth Poppy Appeal over the past few weeks.

Sophie's parents have said that as the town's youngest volunteer she has shown how anybody can get involved in such a worthwhile cause.

Grandad Mark, who had been in the services for over 20 years, joined Sophie at Sunday's service in laying the wreath next to others at the war memorial in Abbey Fields.

Sophie's dad, Jamie Cartwright, explained: "This year the RBL appealed for more volunteers, so this year Sophie has been going along with me or her mum [Laura] selling poppies. She has started to understand more about it whilst doing it which is another reason for taking her along.

"Debbie Cox [organiser of the local appeal], when she found out that Sophie was involved, left some Poppy Appeal themed presents for her which got her even more excited, and helped her to understand more what was going on.

"Then Debbie asked for Sophie to lay the wreath, I think hoping to spread the message 'if she can do it, then anybody can'."

Jamie and Laura first got involved with the Kenilworth branch of the Royal British Legion last year and said they were hugely proud of Sophie for getting involved and pleased that today will provide memories for years to come.

"It's obviously more than just placing a ring of flowers next to a memorial," Jamie said. "It has meaning to him [Sophie's grandad] certainly and will have more meaning to her as she gets older."

Most of all though Jamie stressed that Sophie has set an important example for other people to get involved.

He added: "The British Legion need more volunteers and they need more people involved.

"We owe a lot to these people who have given a hell of a lot to us. Whilst I am really proud of Sophie, and so is my dad, but the point is that people will hopefully follow her example and get involved in the Royal British Legion."

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