University news

UofG will 'Light Up Red' for the 2023 Scottish Poppy Appeal.

Armed Forces charity Poppyscotland recently issued an appeal to businesses, tourist destinations, and landmarks across Scotland to ‘Light Up Red’ to raise awareness of this year's Poppy Appeal.

The University has taken up the offer to light up its iconic tower and the south front of its iconic Gilbert Scott building, which overlooking Kelvingrove Park. 

From castles to council buildings, schools to statues, the charity has urged some of Scotland’s most iconic buildings to show their support in the lead up to Remembrance Sunday on November 12.

Last year, 188 locations took part from Stornoway to Selkirk, including the House of Bruar, Eilean Donan Castle, the Caird Hall, Glasgow Science Centre, and Edinburgh Castle.

The University of Glasgow's main campus building will be lit up from Monday 6 November to the early hours of Monday 13 November - ensuring it will be lit red for Remembrance Sunday.

Dr David Duncan, Chief Operating Officer and University Secretary, said: “We are delighted to turn our iconic University of Glasgow main building red to help raise awareness of the Scottish Poppy Appeal and show our support for the Armed Forces community.  Due to our building’s location it can be viewed from many parts of Glasgow and will be an impressive sight. We hope that it will help spread the Scottish Poppy Appeal’s message and also pay our own tribute to the many members of our community who lost their lives serving in the Armed Forces.”

The Scottish Poppy Appeal is Scotland’s biggest fundraising campaign, raising more than £2 million for the charity’s welfare work with veterans, servicemen and women and their families.

Three million poppies, made by veterans at the Lady Haig Poppy Factory in Edinburgh, are already on their journey around the country. This total includes around 400,000 new poppies entering circulation for this year. Featuring the first design evolution in 27 years, the Scottish poppy is now available as a plastic-free item, reducing Poppyscotland’s production carbon emissions by 40%.

Austin Hardie, Director of Poppyscotland, said: “One small act of Remembrance can have a monumental impact on a veteran and their family. That’s why it is always special to see so many iconic Scottish landmarks lighting up red in support of the Scottish Poppy Appeal. We know how much this act of Remembrance means to our Armed Forces community. And the visual support across so many instantly recognisable landmarks shows how valued our Armed Forces community is here in Scotland.

“We are delighted that this initiative has captured the imagination of a nation over the last few years. We are incredibly grateful for the support of so many businesses, organisations, and landmarks who participate in their hundreds. This is a captivating visual opportunity to provide our Armed Forces community with the recognition they deserve.”

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For more information about how to Light Up Red for Poppyscotland and the 2023 Scottish Poppy Appeal, visit www.poppyscotland.org.uk/light-up-red.

First published: 27 October 2023