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  Before I get "shamed" I thought that I would take a little time to explain why I refuse to wear a poppy.
  
  During the late 70's and early 80's I ran a small engineering company. Part of our product consisted of some small transducers which we made from small turned parts supplied by a local company. Deliveries were frequently late and as luck would have it a letter popped in the door from British Legion Industries. Apparently they had some spare capacity at their works in BL village. I sent them some drawings and they came back with a quote which although marginally more expensive was attractive from the point of view of reliable delivery. After several phone calls with a Mr Taylor who was the production manager we agreed that I would visit on the following Monday to sign the contract.
  
  It just so happened that the local company phoned wanting me to place a follow up order. I explained that I was going elsewhere. They got a bit grumpy but accepted it as a fact of life.
  
  So it was that on the Monday morning I went to their works. I asked for Mr Taylor but was told that he wasn't in. I explained that I had an appointment. They told me that he had gone out and wasn't expected back. The shop floor foreman came to see me and appeared baffled when I explained the situation. It appeared that on the Friday before they received a huge order from the Ministry of Transport and couldn't possibly find space for mine. British Legion did not have the courtesy to tell me they couldn't do it and Mr Taylor absented himself to avoid me.
  
  I had to go back to my original suppliers who laughed themselves silly and gave me a yarn about taking on other orders and having to complete my job in overtime. That cost me an additional £6,000. I was not and am still not amused. So no, I won't be wearing a poppy.
  
  I will add another posting on Remembrance Sunday when I will be doing my bit poppy less at the war memorial.
  
  Terry

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