Twin sisters who have dedicated decades to supporting the Armed Forces community are continuing their efforts to raise money for the Royal British Legion's Poppy Appeal.
Maureen Ambrose and Ursula Capel, both 84, have been running a pop-up shop in the former Scoop and S-More on Walton High Street, selling handmade items and poppy merchandise to raise funds for the annual appeal.
Originally from Surrey, the sisters moved to Walton about 30 years ago and have been involved with the Royal British Legion for decades, with Maureen joining 40 years ago and Ursula following 30 years ago.
Maureen acts as the Poppy Appeal organiser, with Ursula as her deputy.
Both have personal connections to the Armed Forces, which continue to inspire their fundraising.
Ursula served in the Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps from 1958 for six and a half years, working in Woolwich before completing a course in chest diseases in Liphook, Hampshire, and undertaking two periods of service in Germany.
She said: "I'm a veteran and Maureen was married to a veteran. I carried a standard for 30-odd years.
"I loved it. It was fantastic. Back then you couldn't continue to serve once you married, but I would have if I could.
"And that's what I do it for – the veterans and the people who are still fighting."
Maureen's husband served in Malaya, while she also spent years working in a hospital supporting people with mental and physical disabilities.
She said: "My husband fought in Malaya and that's a huge reason for me still wanting to do this."
The sisters first joined the Legion through its women's section before becoming members of the wider organisation.
Their pop-up shop offers knitted and crocheted poppies, coasters, lanyards, pins, paper poppies, vehicle poppies, bags and wreaths priced between £10 and £30.
Most items are available for a donation.
Local craft shop Heady's also supports the appeal by making and donating coasters and signs, while a teddy bear fundraising card gives visitors another opportunity to contribute.
The sisters said the appeal is about remembering those who served in both world wars, as well as those serving and fighting today.
For Maureen, having each other throughout their lives has been particularly special.
"People ask us what it's like being twins. And I always say, what's it like being single? We've always had each other," she said.
The sisters also praised their volunteers, including Walton-on-the-Naze Sea Cadets who have been collecting for four Saturdays and raised more than £2,000.
They will also take collection buckets around the town on Armistice Day.
Maureen added: "We couldn't run this shop without our volunteers. Without them it wouldn't get done."
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