Most people know that the poppy is the National emblem of remembrance for those men and women who gave their lives defending the principles of freedom and democracy for which our Country stands, but where do all the poppies and wreaths come from. and how did it all begin.
The British Legion was formed in 1921 in the aftermath of the 1st World War, and in 1922 taking over an old shirt collar factory in the Old Kent Road, five disabled men were its first employees, and every year since then, the poppies and wreaths have been made in the British Isles.
In 1925, a Limited Company was set up and the factory became known as “The British Legion Poppy Factory Ltd”. The name remained the same until the factory’s Golden Jubilee Year of 1972 when the prefix “Royal” was added to the title.
By 1925 the number of men employed had grown to 150 and it became necessary to find large premises. Eventually an old brewery in Richmond was purchased and converted into the Factory. In just over 10 years, the factory had grown from five men working in the Old Kent Road, to some 300 disabled ex-servicemen working in pleasant surroundings in Richmond.
Working in conjunction with Paul Raymen of Bradbrook Consulting, and Bill Kay the poppy factory’s operation manager, Cemplas Waterproofing and Concrete Repairs Ltd were appointed as the principle contractor to carry out extensive concrete repairs to the external buildings columns, and the application of protective coatings to the building’s façade.
Following a survey and investigation by Cemplas, the front external face of the columns were removed, and the exposed steel beams were cleaned to remove the extensive corrosion that had built up over the years.
Additional steel reinforcement was fixed to the cleaned steel beam and brickwork using Hilti shot fired steel fixings and Hilti Hit Resin HY100. Pull off tests were undertaken to ensure they achieved the desired bond strength.
One of the contract conditions was the columns had to be repaired to match exactly the same as the columns removed. To ensure this, shutters were cut and formed on site, and Sika Armocrete poured into the prepared shutter.
On removal of the shuttering, any defects were bagged in using Sika Monotop 620.
On completion of the remedial repairs, 1 coat of Sikagard 552 W was applied to the new columns, and a further 2 coats of Sikagard 550 W was applied to the entire elevation to provide a protective, and decorative anti-carbonation finish.
Today the Factory receives some 6000 visitors each year, and Cemplas are immensely proud to have played a part in prolonging the life of this structure helping to ensure the Legion continue to manufacture Poppy’s for many years to come, and provide assistance to the ex-service men and woman who served their country, and to remember and pay homage to those that gave their lives.
