Poppy seller amazed by Instagrammer's £12k gift

A veteran who raises money by selling poppies on trains has said he was "amazed" at receiving a £12,300 donation from a man on Instagram.

Denis Scaife, 74, had been celebrating raising £25,770 over the past 10 years when he was informed that he would be receiving another £12,300, taking the total to £38,000.

Mr Scaife, who served with the Royal Engineers and attends veteran meetings in Bridlington, said: "I'm amazed. It was totally unexpected. The money just came out of the blue."

Details of the person who made the donation have not been shared.

On Saturday, Mr Scaife - who lives in Retford - shared the news of this year's totals with his fellow volunteers at their fortnightly veterans' Breakfast Club in Bridlington.

Other veterans have supported the fundraising efforts.

Fellow veteran Martin Jolly said it was "phenomenal" amount, adding: "It was hard work. It's not about us, it's about what that money can do… and it helps in a lot of areas."

"Quite astonishing, isn't it?" said Andrew Budd, another veteran. "Ten years of it now, but this year has blitzed all records."

Mr Scaife was stationed in Northern Ireland and previously shared that he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder.

"It's sometimes a battle," he said.

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