Navy, army and air force cadets across Surrey have excelled in fundraising for this year's Royal British Legion (RBL) Poppy Appeal.

Cadets from across the county, Greater London South West and West Sussex were recognised by the RBL for doing even better than in last year's Lord Lieutenant Surrey's Poppy Appeal Cadet Competition, which took place against the backdrop of a record Surrey Poppy Appeal total being raised.

Last week, at the official presentation evening held at St John's School, Leatherhead, Canon Peter Bruinvels, the RBL's county field officer for Surrey, thanked the 750-plus cadets who collected £97,461.93p in this year's competition.

And two cadets from Horley were recognised for outstanding fundraising in the army cadets category - Sgt Oliver Lay from Horley ACF, who personally raised the top total of £3,324.79 in the competition, and Lieutenant Corporal Philip Keeble of the Horley Detachment, who raised the third highest total of £1,499.31.

Canon Bruinvels said the presentations were taking place with another record total for the Surrey Poppy Appeal having been raised so far - £1,000,611.44.

He said the total was up £26,000 on the same time last year.

Canon Bruinvels said; “As Lieutenant-General Mark Manns CBE – Adjutant-General said at the Annual Lord Lieutenant’s Cadet Competition last night, Surrey Royal British Legion remains at the forefront in helping servicemen, ex-servicemen and women and their dependants in financial need through Poppy Support – and it is an ever growing need in Surrey.

“This record sum of £1,000,611.44 raised so far this year is our highest ever total and is a fitting tribute for their bravery and our way of saying a very personal ‘thank you’ to all those brave veterans who fought for us over more than 65-plus years of conflict, and those still fighting today for us in the name of freedom in Afghanistan - many of whom either lost their lives then, or continue to suffer each day.”

He said: “We will never forget them or their bravery and remain forever in their debt.”

He added: “However, we must not forget the very public role of all 129 Surrey and Greater London South West Poppy Appeal organisers and their loyal band of 3,500 collectors, who have all contributed to this record total – whether they collected £186.36p or £40,237.59p every penny counts.”

Canon Bruinvels continued: “This has been a really remarkable year for the cadet competition. “Despite rising inflation and the credit crunch, the people of Surrey have continued to be so generous, and the cadets have worked so hard for our Poppy Appeal, keeping it to the forefront. “It has also been good to see all ages out collecting, with many battle stories recounted to the cadets.

“I have been able to reassure the cadets that all monies raised by them will be used to help those servicemen and ex-servicemen and their dependants in need across Greater Surrey.

“With the battle in Afghanistan and the recent battle in Iraq, their support could not have come at a better time.”

Mrs Sarah Goad JP, Lord-Lieutenant of Surrey, said:- “Everyone has worked so very hard to achieve this remarkable total.

“We really need these sums to support our forces and ex-servicemen and women at home and abroad.”

Nick Buckley, head of the Poppy Appeal, said: “All at Poppy Appeal HQ in Aylesford, Kent , send our thanks and best wishes to the vast number of volunteers in the county who made this possible.”

Mrs Goad presented the trophies, shields and certificates in the cadets competition for the most money collected by the Navy, Army and Air Force Cadet Units in Surrey, Greater London South West and West Sussex, as well as the highest sum raised by an individual cadet from each service unit.

Guests attending included Surrey Police Chief Constable Mark Rowley, Professor Michael Joy OBE, High Sheriff –in-Nomination, and Lieutenant Colonel David Pipe, President of Surrey RBL.

The special guest for the evening was Lieutenant-General Mark Manns CBE – Adjutant-General to the Forces, Commander Regional Forces and Inspector-General to the Territorial Army.