Legion launches Poppy Appeal
‘ Every cent really counts’ and makes a difference to the lives of veterans living in Spain
In bright autumn sunshine, the 2020 Poppy Appeal launch took place last Friday, held once again in Benidorm. Sadly due to the current Covid- 19 restrictions it was marked by holding a much shorter ceremony without the usual flock of spectators, parades and music from the pipers.
THE OFFICIAL launch of the 2020 Poppy Appeal took place in Benidorm last Friday ( October 16).
Sadly this year the ongoing Covid- 19 pandemic meant that only a short ceremony was held in private and the traditional spectacular parade led by the Torrevieja Pipes and Drums, and Standards could not take place.
The act of remembrance took place in the Oscar Esplá auditorium at noon, attended by Benidorm mayor Toni Pérez; British vice- consul in
Alicante Sara Munsterhjelm; Brigadier Lisa Keetley, the senior army officer in Spain, currently serving in the NATO Rapid Deployable Corps headquarters in Valencia; Don Cubbon, chairman of District North Spain of The Royal British Legion ( TRBL); and Jim Thomson, chairman of Benidorm branch of TRBL, with each laying a wreath in remembrance.
A short speech was broadcast and live streamed before trumpeter Alwyn Pollendine of The Royal British Legion Band, Spain played the Last
Post, at which point the Standards were lowered.
A minute’s silence followed after which they were raised and piper Donald Mark of Torrevieja Pipes and Drums played while the wreathes were laid.
The ceremony ended with the playing of the Spanish and British national anthems.
District North Spain’s area runs from the French border
in the north to northern Granada in the south, including the Balearic Islands.
The money raised is distributed here in Spain and in the last year they have dealt with almost 100 separate cases, spending more than € 115,000 in support.
TRBL provides emotional, practical and financial support to ex- service personnel and their dependants.
Organisers explain that every cent really counts and makes a huge difference to the lives of veterans – old and young – here in Spain.
The poppy that grew so profusely in the war- torn fields of Flanders, where nothing else would, is their emblem and now worn with pride by many as a symbol of remembrance.