A familiar face on the East Coast Main Line has achieved a remarkable milestone, with poppy seller Denis Scaife raising a record-breaking £25,000 through this year’s Poppy Express — a partnership with Hull Trains and Lumo.

Denis, 74, and his wife Barbara began their railway fundraising journey a decade ago, turning a small initiative into a much-loved annual tradition. Today, the campaign boasts a team of 15 volunteers who travel on East Coast services every year to support The Royal British Legion. This year’s total surpasses the 2024 figure by £10,000, marking a new high point in the project’s ten-year history.

In October, the couple undertook a poppy-selling marathon that saw them cover hundreds of miles in just two days — starting from Retford to London King’s Cross, before heading north to Newcastle and Edinburgh, then making the return journey. Their efforts also included a visit to the Scottish Parliament, where they attended a Poppyscotland reception at Holyrood to meet fellow fundraisers and learn more about the charity’s vital work supporting the Armed Forces community.

Denis, a former Non-Commissioned Officer with the Corps of Royal Engineers, said:

“Wow. I’m blown away by our final total for the Poppy Express this year and genuinely can’t believe we’ve raised so much money. The generosity of customers never fails to amaze us, with people kindly donating whatever they can as they travel. We marked our tenth anniversary this year with a very special poppy selling marathon with our friends at Lumo and Hull Trains. I’d like to thank all the rail operators who kindly welcome us on board every year, along with their customers who always show real kindness and support for us. Of course, we couldn’t do any of this without our amazing team of volunteers, many of whom are veterans themselves. This money will go to incredibly important causes.”

His efforts have not gone unnoticed. Stuart Jones, Managing Director of First Rail Open Access, which oversees both Lumo and Hull Trains, praised the couple’s dedication:

“Denis and Barbara’s dedication to the Poppy Appeal embodies the very best of community spirit and we are honoured to support him in such a meaningful cause. I’d like to wish them a huge congratulations for raising such a record amount of money. Here’s to next year!”

The Poppy Express has also inspired others to get involved, with one online content creator launching an additional fundraising campaign that has already generated over £6,000 on top of the onboard total.

Meanwhile, both Lumo and Hull Trains have been shortlisted for multiple categories at the upcoming CorpComms Awards, including Best Community Partnership, recognising their contribution to initiatives that deliver lasting social impact.

Image: Hull Trains