Gina Davidson: Is it never too early to show our respect?

Indeed, with 22 days to go before Remembrance Sunday, which this year falls on November 14, presenters on the BBC and Sky had pinned their poppies to their lapels on Saturday. By Sunday they were also seen on the jackets of Andrew Marr and even the deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg.

Such a display unwittingly released a barrage of complaints, raising the question of just when is the right time to wear the poppy? That's if you want to wear it, of course.

The debate has also spread to internet message boards, with some arguing that people should wait as early poppy wearing "devalues Remembrance Day", although others claim it's "never too early to show respect" to servicemen and women.

It certainly seems though that the old convention that they were sported from All Souls' Day on November 2 until Remembrance Sunday itself has been abandoned. One anecdote has it that an MP on a BBC political show has already complained that "next year we'll be wearing them in August".

So is this public race to be the premier poppy pinner in danger of diluting not only the message of the Poppy Appeal but also the amount of money the campaign can raise?

The small paper flower is worn to honour the men and women who risk their lives in service for the country in return for a donation to Poppyscotland, formerly known as The Earl Haig Fund or, outside Scotland, the Royal British Legion. Last year in Scotland, poppy buying raised 2.2 million to help the charity provide assistance to thousands of ex-servicemen and women as well as helping to fund specialist services such as long term care, housing and employment.

As far as the organisation is concerned, it aims to do just that again this year - although spokeswoman Leigh James does caution that wearing the poppy too early could have some negative impact.

"We are officially launching the appeal this week, and we got our television and radio advertising going on Monday. We have our poppies and boxes out to our 600 organisers around the country already, and while we do ask that they don't put them out until we launch and most do strictly adhere to that, there are some who have such massive distribution areas to cover that they couldn't possibly manage to do it all in one day.

"We don't really want them to be out too early though as people do get confused and it's better for us to have a channelled focus of activity, although we would never criticise someone for wearing the poppy early."

She adds: "We do like to try and keep the campaign focused on the couple of weeks in the run-up to Remembrance Sunday, as it's the biggest fundraising event of the year for us."

As far as the BBC is concerned, presenters - and television guests - can wear poppies if they want to, it's all about individual choice, but there is guidance on when to wear them, and that is apparently just a couple of weeks before Remembrance Sunday.

A spokesman from the Royal British Legion in England - which last year raised 35m - said wearing the poppy was about remembering the war dead and it was not a "competition" to wear it at the earliest opportunity.

"It's not about 'competitive poppy wearing', it's an individual choice and anyone who wears the poppy will be recognised by the Legion. Poppy selling outlets are told that they can put out the flowers from October 28. But we would never say an individual's wearing their poppy too early."

Neil Griffiths, spokesman for the Royal British Legion Scotland, adds: "We are grateful for the support of anyone on television wearing a poppy as it raises public awareness. If people are putting the tins out early, well then the longer they're out the more money we can hopefully raise."

And as Leigh James adds: "What's great about the run-up to Remembrance Sunday is that you see the odd poppy on a jacket, and then in the week before there's this flood of them. That's such a great feeling."

SUPPORTING THE SCOTTISH SERVICES

Poppyscotland is the leading charity supporting ex-servicemen and women and their families in Scotland.

Established in 1923 as The Earl Haig Fund Scotland, the current name was adopted in 2006 to reflect revised fundraising activities and charitable services work.

The sister charity, Lady Haig's Poppy Factory, offers work for veterans with disabilities. There are currently 33 veterans employed. Between them they have seen active service in every campaign from Korea to the first Gulf War.

Around five million poppies, 60,000 collecting tins and 10,000 wreaths are distributed each year.

The Scottish Poppy Appeal operates independently from The Royal British Legion's appeal in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.