TO the sound of pipes and drums, former servicemen and women marched through the streets of Benidorm today to mark the start of the Poppy Appeal 2021.
The event, organised by the Royal British Legion, which this year celebrates its centenary, included flags from Spain, Britain and the RBL districts. The procession even included Chelsea Pensioners, retired soldiers from the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, all marching to the sound of the acclaimed Torrevieja Pipes and Drums.
The event was attended by the Mayor of Benidorm, Toni Perez, as well as Joe Falzon, the Vice Chairman of the RBL, the British Consul in Madrid and Alicante, Sarah-Jane Morris, Captain Ian Clarke RN, Defence Attaché Madrid, Bob Chambers, the RBL Overseas Membership Support Officer and Fiona Hedges, the Overseas Membership Support Officer.
The mayor said how delighted he was to host the launch of the Poppy Appeal once again, highlighting the multicultural and multinational make-up of the city.
The RBL was set up, following the First World War, in 1921 to bring together different associations of ex-soldiers and sailors to help those who served their country, as well as their families and dependents.
The Poppy Appeal, organised by the RBL, distributes 25 million poppies each year, the majority made by people with functional diversity, and the money raised from the sales goes to help ex servicemen and women and their families.
If you are a veteran visiting or living in Spain and you would like to know more about the Royal British Legion or their activities in District North, please contact your local Legion branch, details of which can be found at http://counties.britishlegion.org.uk/…/the-district-its…
The Valencia Report 