Leighton Buzzard hero Wally Randall honoured with memorial plaques

Formally known as ‘Britain’s Oldest Poppy Seller’, Wally died in March aged 104, leaving the community with a hole in its heart, as he would never again greet shoppers with a smile as they dropped coins into his collection tin.

However, the memory of the World War Two veteran will live on, as The Wally Randall Memorial Public Steering Group Committee has organised for three temporary commemorative plaques to be displayed at some of Wally’s old haunts: Wilko, Morrisons and The Royal British Legion in West Street.

Committee president Trevor Roff said: “Wally would be proud. He was a very proud man. He was a legend to this town really and it’s sad because we all miss him still.

“You can’t really put words to him. He was a devoted man - devoted to the Royal British Legion and to the Masons.”

Writing to the businesses and the Legion, the committee said: “As the Poppy Appeal gets under way, we have great pleasure in enclosing for you to display, a temporary commemorative plaque to honour the work of Britain’s oldest poppy seller that was the late Mr Wally Randall, who sold poppies from a pitch that you kindly provided on your site.”

The WRM Public Steering Group was set up earlier this year by friends of the 104-year-old poppy-selling champion.

However, the letter went on to explain that although its plans were hampered by Covid-19, the group was still determined to honour him: “The WRM Steering Group was formed originally intending to plan and raise by public subscription a fitting memorial marker to recognise the works of Leighton Buzzard’s famous poppy seller, ‘Wally’.

“However, shortly after the inauguration of our committee, Covid-19 hit and changed the dynamics of the world forever – and alongside that we were hampered on every approach, not being able to meet to progress, but worse, not being able to organise gatherings or events to fundraise.

“In light of the current national situation, the WRM Public Steering Group have decided it would be best to have something in place rather than nothing in time for this year’s Poppy Appeal, to give some recognition to Wally and his astounding poppy work, and to give recognition to the locations that accommodated him where he sold his poppies from.”

Due to Covid-19, there will be no ceremonial public unveiling. The committee also hopes that a more “permanent and appropriate marker” may be possible in the future.