PICTURES of servicemen past and present were beamed onto Highcliffe Castle at dusk in a poignant launch of the Dorset Poppy Appeal 2011.

The sound of bugles playing echoed out over the castle lawns as the images, including the Royal British Legion’s poppy symbol, lit up the night sky.

Christine Chatfield, RBL Regional Fundraising Manager, said: “Last year we put a giant poppy on the Cerne Abbas giant.

“After that we thought we’ve got to do something that equals if not betters it.

“Highcliffe Castle is just such a beautiful building and grounds so it seemed perfect.

“It was just dark enough for the projections to show up really well. It was quite spectacular.”

The aim was to emphasise the importance of the RBL and its supporters standing ‘shoulder to shoulder’ with the armed forces.

Two schoolchildren read John McCrae’s In Flanders Fields poem to the 60 gathered guests.

And Captain Tim Moore, a serving cavalry officer and regimental welfare officer, spoke of his two Iraq tours and his firsthand experience of seeing the RBL’s work.

Christine added: “We’re asking people to dig deep because we’ve got a target of £40million this year.

“We spend £1.4million a week on welfare, and that will only grow because of the Afghanistan generation and all the help they are going to need.”

Watch the Daily Echo’s video of the launch at bournemouthecho.co.uk • POOLE Mayor Graham Wilson helped launch the town’s Poppy Appeal on Saturday.

Cllr Wilson bought the first poppy in the Dolphin Centre in the morning.

Shoppers could have their photo taken with Star Wars characters Darth Vadar and some Storm Troopers, who were all wearing poppies to draw attention to the appeal.