Jessica Baker, 15, died after the coach she was on veered off the M53 in Hooton, Merseyside after the driver suffered an “event” at the wheel. The 2023 Poppy Appeal launched with a short ceremony at a Midlands naval reserve centre - and a D-Day veteran and a schoolgirl who's one of the Royal British Legion's youngest fundraisers have helped launch this year's Appeal together. An inquest heard CCTV footage from inside the coach showed Mr Shrimpton slump to his left while driving the coach, which at the same time left the carriageway and went up an embankment before ending up on its side. The teenager suffered “instantaneous” death from “catastrophic” injuries in the crash on the northbound M53 near junction five at Hooton on the Wirral on Friday, 29 September.

Today's launch was also an act of remembrance, with a cascade of nearly 20 thousand poppies made specially for the day unveiled at the naval base. The inquest hearing was told Mr Shrimpton was pronounced dead at the scene at 8.50am. Credit: Facebook Hymns including Abide With Me and Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer were sung and the poem She Is Gone was read. Ted Rutland, who is 100 years old, took part in the D-Day landings. Whilst a soldier with the Royal Engineers, he survived an aerial bombardment which claimed the lives of many of his comrades. Stephen Shrimpton, 40, who was also killed in the accident, was driving the coach taking pupils to two local schools, West Kirby Grammar School and Calday Grange Grammar School.

Following the service, members of her family tearfully embraced each other outside the church before the cortege travelled to Blacon Crematorium. The church was full for the ceremony, with a video link provided to the school next door for those who could not fit.

Jessica was a passenger on the bus which was taking her to school along with around 50 other students when it crashed at around 8am.The 'cascade' of poppies bears the names of Midlands servicemen and women killed in action. Credit: ITV News Central After her death, her family said Jessica loved all sports but “her overriding passion” was for both indoor and outdoor climbing. Her parents Sean and Sarah and sister Rebecca spoke at the service and tributes were paid by her high school and climbing club. She says she was "a bit nervous" before the appeal launched "because it is [her] first time on TV."