A “beacon of hope” that lit the way for generations of returning service men and woman has now inspired a new Remembrance pin badge. The Pike Poppy pin badge was designed as a homage to Rivington Pike and will serve as a version of the Remembrance poppy with particular significance for people in the area. This comes after the Horwich Branch of the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal succeeded in raising £179,444 over the last five years.

Dr Kathryn Grant said: “Rivington Pike has long been a defining landmark on our landscape and for many generations it has symbolised a beacon of hope for returning service men and women. “In recent years, Horwich, Chorley and Blackrod Councils have come together to mark Remembrance Sunday with the lighting up of Rivington Pike with an illuminated large poppy. The poppies have been designed with local significance in mind (Image: Public) “This simple, yet powerful mark of remembrance seeded the idea for The Pike Poppy pin badge.

“A small group of Horwich residents came together to make this a reality and we now have our own beautiful badge that has a strong local significance to the whole of Horwich, Blackrod, Bolton , Adlington and Chorley. “Not to mention nearly one million visitors to Rivington each year.” Dr Grant said she hoped the Pike Poppy badge would help fill a gap left by the Poppy Appel’s decision earlier this year to stop producing regional pin badges like the Bee badge.

A Pike Poppy Pin Badge (Image: Public) .