Armed Forces Day 2021 in Spain
A service to both celebrate and commemorate Armed Forces Day and the Centenary of the Royal British Legion was held in Orihuela Cathedral (La Santa Iglesia Catedral del Salvador y Santa Maria de Orihuela) on Saturday 26th June in the presence of Her Majesty’s Ambassador, Hugh Elliott, and the Mayor of Orihuela Emilio Bascuñana.
They were joined by guests who included the British Defence Attache, Captain Ian Clarke RN, Liz Bell, the British Vice Consul in Alicante, Orihuela Councillor for Foreign Residents, Mariola Rocamora Gisbert, as well as members of the British and Spanish Armed Forces and Security Services including Orihuela’s Chief of Local Police.
The event was also attended by Members of Legion Branches from across District North Spain
The service got underway as Standard Bearers representing the RBL Spain, RAFA, RNA, RMA, British and Spanish military veterans, marched into the cathedral accompanied by The RBL Concert Band in Spain, led by David Last, as it played the Royal British Legion March.
During the joint denomination service of readings and hymns, conducted in English and Spanish, there was further musical accompaniment by the Royal British Legion Band, as well as a moving duet of ‘The Prayer’ from the Musical ‘Quest for Camelot’ performed by local entertainer and supporter Stevie Spit BEM and Lucina O’Connell, that was especially arranged for the service.
Also during the service the Last Post and Reveille were played by Alwyn Pollendine followed by Piper David Heaney who promenaded though the cathedral as he played the lament ‘Hector the Hero.’ The service ended with stirring renditions of the national anthems of Spain and the United Kingdom.
The congregation was also addressed by both the Ambassador and the Mayor. It was the first time that the Ambassador, who recently became Patron of the Royal British Legion in Spain, had attended the annual event, but during his speech he spoke of his pride at being the Patron of the Royal British Legion in Spain, the 100 years of the RBL, it’s history and it’s achievements, as well as the binding relationship that exists between the UK and Spain Armed Forces.
Reflecting on the event afterwards, Ambassador Elliot wrote:
Most of you will know me as British Ambassador to Spain, but like many of us I wear and have worn a variety of other hats. I’m a husband and a father. I have served as trustee of the British Spanish Society and Chair of Canning House, the UK’s centre for Latin America and Iberia; I am Patron of the British Benevolent Fund and an active supporter of Multiple Sclerosis charities.
I also keep up the struggle against the impact of the gastronomic wonders of Spain through being a mediocre hockey and squash player. However, one of the roles I am most proud to fulfil is that of Patron of the Royal British Legion in Spain. And as we celebrate not only Armed Forces Day, but the centenary of the Legion, I wanted to reflect a little on what it means to me and why its work is so important to UK Nationals in Spain.
This Saturday I was honoured to attend an event in Orihuela, alongside serving officers, veterans, families, reservists and volunteers, to mark this double commemoration. Just three weeks ago, I was lucky enough to be able to visit HMS Kent, while she made a port visit to Alicante – a visible demonstration of the close cooperation between the British Armed Forces and our Allies.
It was international collaboration brought to life: we had a British frigate, working as part of a NATO task group, under the command of a Spanish admiral, contributing to Europe’s regional security. The ship’s captain had nothing but praise for the welcome he and his crew had received in Alicante, which is a glowing testament to our countries’ continued cooperation on defence and security. In historical terms we are in a particularly good place, as not all of the previous HMS Kents (and there have been eleven since 1652) enjoyed the same relationship with the Armada!
The work of the Legion is likewise both longstanding and bilateral. Over the last 100 years, it has fought to improve the lifelong care and support to serving and ex-serving personnel and their families, but its achievements are wider than many appreciate, both as champions of the Armed Forces and their contribution to wider society. They work very closely alongside Spanish charities such as Cruz Roja and make every effort to relieve pressure on the Spanish support services where they can. And speaking at the anniversary event, the mayor of Orihuela, Emilio Bascuñana Galiano, could not have been more welcoming or supportive.
To many of us, the Legion is only visible during the Poppy Appeal, but as I was able to hear in person from Don Cubbon, District North Chair, and many others in Orihuela, it provides year-round support, which goes largely unseen. Two years ago, the branches around Alicante and Murcia provided invaluable financial and practical assistance to those who were victims of the devastating floods.
Over the last 18 months, the fundraising climate and COVID restrictions have made the work of the Community Support Team incredibly tough, but the Legion’s dedicated volunteers have found ways to deliver much-needed support to its beneficiaries in Spain, despite the difficult circumstances.
The Legion is an essential partner to our consulates – sharing our Brexit and travel advice, providing financial assistance to welfare cases and supporting British prisoners with visits. The emotional, practical and financial support it has provided to vulnerable UK Nationals in incredibly complicated and challenging circumstances has been truly invaluable. It is not an overstatement to say that some individuals would not have made it through without it.
That is why the work of the Royal British Legion in Spain matters and why, as we mark this important moment in its history, I look forward, come November, to wearing my poppy with pride; safe in the knowledge that – whatever the challenges of the future – the Legion will continue to serve our communities here in Spain for the next 100 years and beyond.
