RBL Poppy Appeal Launch Benidorm 2022

F REW RD

Thisbeing my first Poppy Appeal Launch as the District Chairman, I was delighted to be asked to provide the foreword for this magazine in which I would like to start by thanking Toni Pérez, the Mayor of Benidorm. Without his support today’s ceremony could not take place, so many thanks to Toni and indeed to the people of Benidorm.

Both myself and my wife, MaryLou, who is also on parade today carrying the Union Flag, are still relative newcomers to Spain. Having left the Armed Forces in 2018, we moved directly to Spain and it was in the same year that I took part in my first Poppy Appeal Launch as the Alicante Branch Standard Bearer.

In subsequent years, I took part as the District Parade Marshal and District Poppy Appeal Organiser. Alongside Armed Forces Day, this Parade of Standards and Ceremony is one of the highlights of the District’s activities and I thank you all for attending today.

During my time in The Royal British Legion I have been fortunate to hold various positions and appointments – undoubtedly the two most satisfying were becoming a District Caseworker and acting as Alicante Branch and the District Poppy Appeal Organiser: both are inextricably linked to the Poppy Appeal Launch.

Year on year, the 14 Branches in the District strive tirelessly to better the previous year’s Poppy Appeal donations. This is especially true during this period of Remembrancetide, which runs annually from the 14th October

BY JACK KEMP

until 14th November.

This is not only when we commemorate those who have given their lives, those who served and those who still serve but also when we raise the majority of the funds we use to provide for those we support, the Legion’s Beneficiaries.

All of the donations received in Spain remain in Spain to provide support and assistance to hundreds of Beneficiaries here in the District each and every year. I thank you all for the generosity you show that allows this to happen.

Before I close, I would like to make one request and share one piece of news. Firstly, please consider joining the Legion, we would be delighted to assist with your Membership application, just visit our Legion Gazebo or see one of us at the reception following the ceremony.

Our team of volunteers at the Legion Gazebo can also provide you with information on the Legion and the support we can provide – or how you can support us in your own way as we are always looking for people who would like the opportunity to “do a little more” or “be in a position to influence”.

Please consider putting your name forward for service on either your Branch or District Committee.

We all have skills that will allow the Legion to flourish and strengthen our support to our members and beneficiaries. It’s hugely rewarding to know that you are making a real difference to people’s lives.

My final news is that we are now very close

to forming a new Branch in Madrid which will be a huge boost to Veterans and Expats living in the Madrid area who have been thinking about joining the Legion.

If you live in an area without a Legion Branch within reasonable traveling distance and you can arrange a group of at least 15 likeminded people who would like to form a Branch, we would be extremely happy to assist you.

With your commitment and support to the Legion we will be in a position to assist even more Beneficiaries living here in Spain.

Thank you all once again for attending the Poppy Appeal Launch today here in Benidorm.

“Service not Self”

BRITISH LEGION DISTRICT NORTH

Chairman, The Royal British Legion, Spain District North

POPPY APPEAL LAUNCH 2022 ORDER OF SERVICE

Incidental music prior to the Ceremony is provided by The Royal British Legion Concert Band, Spain

The Parade of Standards, led by The Torrevieja Pipes and Drums, will arrive at the dais at approximately 1.15pm.

(Spectators are requested to stand to welcome the National Flags, the Representative Standards of The Royal British Legion andotherServiceAssociations)

THE ACT OF REMEMBRANCE

Spectators are requested to remain standing for the Act of Remembrance

THE EXHORTATION

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them.

No envejecerán, como los que quedamos envejeceremos:

la vejez no les fatigará, tampoco les condenaran los años.

Al bajar el sol y al amanecer Les recordaremos

Response: We will remember them.

Last Post 2 Minute Silence Reveille

“LEST WE FORGET”, Sung by Stevie Spit BEM

THE ADDRESSES

Mr Jack Kemp, Chairman of Spain District North of The Royal British Legion (Pages 4 and 5)

Captain Stephen McClory RN, Defence Attaché, Madrid (Page 7)

Ms Lynda Atkins Kemp, Nation Vice Chair of The Royal British Legion (Page 10)

D. Toni Perez Perez, Mayor of Benidorm (Insert)

NATIONAL ANTHEMS

Spectators are requested to stand for the national anthems and to remain standing for the March Off

KOHIMA EPITAPH

'When You Go Home, Tell Them Of Us and Say, For your tomorrow, We gave our Today'

EL EPITAFIO DE KOHIMA

“Al volverte a casa, Cuéntales de nosotros y diles, Para el futuro tuyo, Sacrificamos nuestro día de hoy”.

THE MARCH OFF

JACK KEMP

Chairman, District North Spain

Ladies and Gentlemen, before we begin, I’m sure you will all wish to join me in thanking Stevie Spit for such a moving rendition of the song “Lest We Forget”, thank you Stevie. Honoured Guests, Branch Members, Veterans, Ladies and Gentlemen, I’d like to extend a warm welcome to you all and also thank our distinguished guests who join us today, Invitados de honor, miembros de las sucursales de la Legión, Veteranos, damas y caballeros. Megustaría darles a todos una bienvenida cálida y también agradecer a nuestros distinguidos invitados que se unen a nosotros hoy,

Toni Perez, the Mayor of Benidorm

Lynda Atkins Kemp, National Vice Chairman of The Royal British Legion

Captain Stephen McGlory RN, the Defence Attaché from Madrid and his wife Maribel Wing Commander Jon Millington RAF, Senior Officer Spain and his wife Amanda Bob Chambers TRBL Membership Council Overseas Representative and his wife Mary Ann

Fiona Hedges TRBL Overseas Membership Support Officer and her husband John

Thank you all for attending this, our Launch of The Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal Fundraising for 2022. For those members of the audience who may not be aware, here in Spain we fundraise all year round for the Poppy Appeal. However we always mark the start of the official Poppy Appeal Launch with our Parade of Standards and this small ceremony. Last year we raised E119,835 – as I’m sure you’ll agree, this is a fantastic achievement, and I really hope that, with your assistance, we will do even better this year, despite the difficult economic climate.

Gracias a todos por asistir a esto, nuestro lanzamiento de la recaudación de fondos de The Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal del año 2022. Para aquellos miembros de la audiencia que no lo sepan, aquí en España recaudamos fondos durante todo el año para el Poppy Appeal. Sin embargo, siempre marcamos el inicio del lanzamiento oficial de Poppy Appeal con nuestro Desfile de Estándares y esta ceremonia modesta. El año pasado recaudamos 119.835 euros, como estoy seguro de que estarán de acuerdo, este es un logro fantástico, y espero que, con su ayuda, lo pasaremos este año, a pesar del clima difícil económico.

Events like this do not happen overnight, and preparation starts many months in advance, I would like to highlight the work of Nick Keen, Spain District North Vice Chairman who pulls this event together each year, thank you Nick.

Eventos como este no ocurren de la noche a la mañana, y la preparación comienza con muchos meses de antelación, me gustaría destacar el trabajo de Nick Keen, Vicepresidente del Distrito Norte de España que reúne este evento cada año, gracias Nick.

I would also like to thank Toni Perez the Mayor of Benidorm for once again allowing the Legion, Spain District North the privilege of parading along the seafront and holding our Poppy Appeal Launch Ceremony.

También me gustaría agradecer a Toni Pérez, el alcalde de Benidorm, por permitir una vez más al Distrito Norte de la Legión, el privilegio de desfilar por el paseo marítimo y celebrar nuestra Ceremonia de Lanzamiento del Poppy Appeal.

To the District Committee and the 14 Branches across the District who tirelessly raise funds for the Poppy Appeal at every given opportunity, thank you so much. The money you raise in very kind donations from the

general public goes a very long way to support the Legion’s Beneficiaries here in Spain. Examples of the invaluable work of our Community Support, Caseworkers and Branch Community Support can be seen on pages 7 and 10 of your programme.

Al Comité del Distrito y a las 14 Sucursales del Distrito que recaudan sin parar fondos para el Poppy Appeal en cada oportunidad, muchas gracias. El dinero que recaudan en donaciones tan generosas del público ayuda mucho a apoyar a los Beneficiarios de la Legión aquí en España. Unos ejemplos del invaluable trabajo de nuestro apoyo comunitario y asistentes sociales se pueden ver en las pági-

nas 7 y 10 de su programa.

Many thanks to The Torrevieja Pipes & Drums: as always, they make such a difference to the Parade of Standards. Thank you too to our very own RBL Concert Band Spain - we are so fortunate to have such skilled musicians lead by our very own Musical Director, Mr David Last.

Please also note that tonight we will be holding a Charity Concert also in aid of the Poppy Appeal. It will be held in the Don Pancho Hotel starting at 7:30 pm, tickets are still available at the very reasonable cost of only E10.

Please visit the District Gazebo after the Ceremony if you would like to purchase a ticket.

Muchas gracias a La Banda de Gaitas y Tambores de Torrevieja: como siempre, hacen destacar este Desfile de Estándares. Gracias también a nuestra propia RBL Concert Band Spain - somos muy afortunados de tener músicos tan hábiles dirigidos por nuestro propio Director Musical, el Sr. David Last. Tengan en cuenta también que esta noche celebraremos un concierto benéfico también para el Poppy Appeal. Se llevará a cabo en el Hotel Don Pancho a partir de las 7:30 pm, las entradas todavía están disponibles al costo muy razonable de tan solo E10. Visiten el punto de información del Distrito después de la ceremonia si desean comprar sus entradas.

Thank you to The District Bugler, Mark Benton who will play the Last Post and Reveille later during the Ceremony.

Gracias a Mark Benton quien tocará el Last Post y Reveille, llamados de trompetaconlos que tradicionalmente se rinde homenaje a los soldados caídos, más tarde durante la Ceremonia.

Thanks must also go to the Benidorm Branch led by its Chairlady Diane, whose Members lined the route of the parade and are eagerly amongst you now encouraging you to donate to The Poppy Appeal.

También hay que dar las gracias a la Sucursal de Benidorm liderada por su Presidenta Diane, cuyos miembros se desplegaron a lo largo de la ruta del desfile y están entre ustedes ahora animándoles a donar a The Poppy Appeal.

My very last thanks must go to our Standard Bearers, which of course includes representation from the Royal Naval and the Royal Marine Associations, and for the very first time a representation from the Spanish Forces, carrying the Spanish National Flag, Miguel Martinez Gutierrez, also our Branch Members, and our Veterans for parading with us today. To the veterans, thank you for your service to the Armed Forces and thank you for your continued support to the Legion.

NoPoppy Appeal Launch would be complete without representation from the Royal Hospital Chelsea, and today is no exception: please show your appreciation to all those I have mentioned and to Wayne Campbell our In-Pensioner.

Mi último agradecimiento tiene que dirigirse a nuestros Abanderados, que por supuesto incluye representación de las Asociaciones de la Armada Real y la Infanteria Marinera, y por primera vez un representante de nuestras colegas españolas, con la bandera española, Miguel martinez Gutierrez, también nuestros Miembros y nuestros

Veteranos por desfilar con nosotros hoy. A los veteranos, gracias por su servicio a las Fuerzas Armadas y gracias por su continuo apoyo a la Legión. Ningún lanzamiento de la Poppy Appeal estaría completo sin la representación del Royal Hospital Chelsea - hoy no es excepción ninguna: muestre su agradecimiento a todos los que he mencionado y a Wayne Campbell, nuestro InPensioner.

The Legion is always looking for new Members, so if you are not currently a Members of the Legion here in Spain, or indeed you are visiting and would like to join your closest Branch in the UK we are more than happy to help with your Membership application. We currently have 14 Branches across the District but will shortly be expanding to include Madrid. Please also visit our District Gazebo, where you can find out more about what the Legion can potentially do for you, and of course what you can do for the Legion. You do not have to have been in the Forces to join the Legion. You will receive a very warm welcome from whichever Branch you join, so please make a difference and join today. The voluntary work carried out by our Members is absolutely vital to supporting our Beneficiaries, who have given so much. Thank you all.

La Legión busca continuamente a nuevos miembros, por lo que si actualmente no es miembro de la Legión aquí en España, o está de visita y le gustaría unirse a su sucursal más cercana en el Reino Unido, sería un placer ayudarle con su solicitud de afiliación. Actualmente tenemos 14 sucursales

en todo el Distrito, pero pronto nos expandiremos para incluir también a Madrid. Visite también nuestro punto de información, donde puede obtener más información sobre como puede que la Legión le soporte y, por supuesto, como puede soportar a la Legión.

No es necesario que haya servido en las Fuerzas Armadas para unirte a la Legión. Recibirá una cálida bienvenida de cualquier sucursal a la que se una, así que por favor marque la diferencia y únase hoy.

El trabajo voluntario llevado a cabo por nuestros Miembros es imprescindible para poder apoyar a nuestros Beneficiarios, los que han sacrificado tanto. Gracias a todos.

I would now like to invite Captain Stephen McGlory RN, Military Attaché in the British Embassy in Madrid to say a few words.

Ahora quisiera invitar al Capitán de Navío Stephen McGlory RN, Agregado Militar de la embajada británica en Madrid, a decirnos unas palabras.

Stevie Spit BEM singing with the RBLConcert Band

District bugler Mark Benton

The RBLConcert Band playing at a service in Torrevieja

ORIGINS OF THE POPPY APPEAL IN SPAIN

Pamela Dawson-Tasker became involved with the Poppy Appeal a long way back in 1982. Just a couple of years earlier Major John Lambie had brought the first poppy collection boxes and poppies to Spain and with the cooperation of George Outhwaite Snr. the British Vice Consul in Alicante, the Poppy Appeal Spain was introduced.

The first PACs poppy collectors, about eight I believe, covered their own area of the Costa Blanca.

The first meeting of PACs, which included Olive Battye in Benidorm, who walked from bar to bar with a shopping trolley full of poppy boxes, was held in Calpe. This was to introduce everybody to each other and to decide on individual boundaries.

The first branches of the Legion in Spain appeared a couple of years later and the PACs were encouraged to approach any branch close to our area to request assistance with the distribution of poppy collecting boxes.

I was helping Dulcie Murphy in Calpe in those days, later to take over from her and to work with the Calpe branch.

Although I had my own restaurant to run I still did as much as I could and later Major Lambie, after the first PA Coordinator Robin Guy resigned, asked

At a reception with Prince, now King, Charles

me to take over the post of Poppy Appeal Coordinator for DN Spain, a position I held for some years.

The year before I took over the Poppy Appeal totals achieved in Spain was 1 million pesetas, which equates to about 6,000 euro, and now it regularly reaches over 170 thousand euros!

During these early years I began to publi-

cise the RBL Spain and especially the PA.

I also founded the Benidorm and District branch of the Royal British Legion with 4 other volunteers.

I have taken more of a back seat recently but I am so proud of the current branch officers in the way they have overcome serious setbacks in recent times and are once again running the branch so well.

Pam was awarded the BEM by HM the Queen in 2014 for her work with the British ex-pat community for more than 30 years

CONTACT INFORMATION FOR SPAIN (NORTH)

For all information and support enquiries only,please ring 676 451 780 or email:Spainnorth.communitysupport@rbl.community.

THIS SERVICE IS AVAILABLE MONDAY TO WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY,9AM TO 5PM

Outside these hours call the UKCall Centre 7 days a week,8am to 8pm,0044 (0) 203 376 8080 Take a look at our website:http://counties.britishlegion.org.uk/counties/spain-north.We are also on Facebook

STEPHEN MCGLORY

Defence Attache, Madrid

Ihave

been asked to speak for a few minutes about what Remembrance means to me as a serving officer in His Majesty’s Armed Forces.

It is difficult to talk about Remembrance without mentioning Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, an almost ever present at the Cenotaph in London each year on Remembrance Sunday and probably our most famous veteran from the Second World War.

She, of course, served our country and commonwealth for her entire life, over seventy years as Queen, but the service she gave in the Army Auxiliary Territorial Service in the last years of World War 2, demonstrated most clearly her commitment to get involved, to be alongside the rest of nation as it struggled through its darkest hours;a commitment to duty that never faltered even after the war.

Se me ha pedido hablar durante unos minutos sobre lo que a mi me significa la palabra “Remembrance”, (Conmemoración) como oficial activo en las Fuerzas Armadas de Su Majestad.Es difícil tratar de este tema sin mencionar a Su Majestad nuestra Reina difunta Isabel II, casi siempre presente en el Cenotafio de Londres cada año en el Domingo del Conmemoración y probablemente nuestro veterano más famoso de la Segunda Guerra Mundial.Ella, por supuesto, sirvió a nuestro país y la Commonwealth durante toda su vida, más de setenta años como Reina, pero el servicio que prestó en el Servicio Territorial Auxiliar del Ejército en los últimos años de la 2ª Guerra Mundial, demostró más claramente su compromiso de involucrarse, de estar junto al resto de la nación mientras luchaba a través de sus horas más oscuras;un compromiso con el deber que nunca flaqueó incluso después de la guerra.

But Remembrance is not about the famous veterans.This annual event is about remembering everyone, killed or injured in war –from the lowest junior soldier to the highest ranking officer,

from the factory workers (mostly women), making the all-important munitions, to the merchant sailors, ensuring essential supplies reached our shores,

from the children and other civilians who endured the air raids, evacuation and the hardships of daily life at war, to those who suffered under brutal occupation, forced labour and prisoner of war and concentration camps to those who died in the World Wars as well as those who died in all the other conflicts since.

Pero nuestra conmemoración no se trata de los famosos veteranos.Este evento anual se trata de recordar a todos, muertos o heridos en la guerra:

desde el soldado más bajo hasta el oficial de más alto rango, desde los trabajadores de la fábrica (en su mayoría mujeres), que fabrican las municiones más importantes, hasta los marineros mercantes, asegurando que los suministros esenciales llegaran a nuestras costas, de los niños y otros civiles que soportaron los ataques aéreos, la evacuación y las penurias de la vida cotidiana en la guerra, a aquellos que sufrieron bajo la brutal ocupación, el trabajo forzoso y los campos de prisioneros de guerra y de concentración a los que murieron en las Guerras Mundiales, así como a los que murieron en todos los demás conflictos desde entonces.

Some of you here will have first-hand experience of conflict or war, maybe as a child in the late 1930s, or as a service person more recently in the Falklands, Iraq, the Balkans or Afghanistan.Remembrance for some is very personal, the loss of colleagues, friends, loved ones.For others it acts as a reminder of the ultimate sacrifice that we as military personal have committed ourselves to, if necessary.

Algunos de ustedes aquí tendrán experiencia de primera mano de conflictos o guerras, tal vez cuando eran

niños a fines de los años 1930, o como personas de servicio más recientemente en las Malvinas, Irak, los Balcanes o Afganistán.Para algunos la conmemoración es muy personal, la pérdida de colegas, amigos, seres queridos.Para otros, actúa como un recordatorio del sacrificio final al que nosotros, como personal militar, nos hemos comprometido, si sea necesario.

My most recent appointments saw me spend almost five years in Belgium, a special place for Remembrance.

Home to innumerable Commonwealth War Graves as well as the Menin Gate and the Tyne Cot memorial, which together list the names of almost 90,000 dead with no known grave from the First World War. November there is wet, dark, cold and sombre, but Armistice Day is always marked.It is remembered, as I was told by my 85-year old Belgian next door neighbour, because people from a different country, with a different culture, who spoke a different language, came from over the sea to fight and die to liberate them and give them back their freedom, not once but twice.

Mis nombramientos más recientes me llevaron a pasar casi cinco años en Bélgica, un lugar especial para la Conmemoración.Hogar de innumerables cementerios de guerra de la Commonwealth, así como la Puerta de Menin y el monumento conmemorativo de Tyne Cot, que entre ellos enumeran los nombres de casi 90,000 muertos de la Primera Guerra Mundial sin tumba conocida.

Allí, aunque el mes de noviembre esté húmedo, oscuro, frío y sombrío, siempre se marca el Día del

Armisticio.Se lo recuerda, como me observó mi vecino belga de 85 años, porque personas de un país diferente, con una cultura diferente, que hablaban un idioma diferente, cruzaron el mar para luchar y morir para liberarles y devolverles su libertad, no una sola vez sino dos veces.

So why do we meet every year to remember:

Because our dead were real people, our friends and colleagues, relatives or loved ones, who made the ultimate sacrifice

Because those thousands of people, that we never knew, fought and died to preserve the rights and freedoms that we all enjoy

Because those previous generations who died, gave their today for our tomorrow.

And it is because only by learning from the past can we avoid such terrible events in the future. Remembrance helps us to NOT forget.We should never forget.

Entonces, ¿porqué nos reunimos cada año para recordar:

Porque nuestros muertos eran personas reales, nuestros amigos y colegas, familiares o seres queridos, que hicieron el sacrificio final.

Porque esas miles de personas, que nunca conocimos, lucharon y murieron para preservar los derechos y libertades que todos disfrutamos.

Porque esas generaciones anteriores que murieron, sacrificaron su hoy por nuestro mañana.

Y es porque solo por aprender del pasado podemos evitar eventos tan terribles en el futuro.El recuerdo nos ayuda a NO olvidar.No debemos olvidar nunca.

THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION ‘IN ACTION’

Letme tell the story of welfare in Spain and the never-ending and selfless effort that goes into supporting Beneficiaries who find themselves in need of the Legion’s assistance.

We work hard to recruit volunteer case workers with a little time and a passion to support and enable beneficiaries to live the best life they can.

We work closely together as a team to understand our Beneficiaries’needs and support them.

Without willing volunteers, there is no team, so we support those Volunteers with training, mentorship and expenses.

They then go on to provide the service wherever and whenever it is needed across a large part of Spain and the islands.

We are always looking for telephone buddies and Hospital and house bound visitors as well in the local community to support veterans and their nearest and dearest.

Again, training and support is part of our commitment to them.

To give you just a flavour of how these activities work in tandem, here are just a few of the many stories covering the whole range of activities from our Headquarters in London right through to the Beneficiaries who need our help here in Spain:

“When I arrived at the course with a basic knowledge of what welfare caseworkers did in their rolehowever I only knew 10%!

What an amazing job these volunteers do and I am now extremely proud to call myself one.

I look forward to the role and hope that the trust and faith placed in me by the RBL proves to be well founded!

A few months on I have finished my mentorship and working with beneficiaries.It is hard work but amazing and I am still well supported with each case.”

My husband Carl is also a veteran and he served in the Royal Air Force for 30 years before leaving at the end of his long career in 2015.

We moved to Spain whilst Carl was on official resettlement leave from the Royal Air Force in December of 2014.Everything went well, and we settled down into Spanish life.

A few years later I needed an operation which when being able bodied would be fine but being disabled and having to use crutches and a mobility scooter wasn’t so great and we found that I wouldn’t be able to get around my home on the mobility scooter I had as it was too large for use in the house and I wouldn’t be able to use the crutches due to the nature of the operation I was having.

I needed a smaller electric wheelchair that would be suitable to get into the car too.

We spoke to a lovely lady called Pam TwissellCross MBE who is the District Coordinator at the Royal British Legion Spain District North and who really put us at ease with her calm manner and down to earth attitude.We explained that we really did not have to funds to purchase the wheelchair and car hoist.

A caseworker was assigned to us, and we were granted assistance.Without the help that we received we would have been really struggling, but I had a whole new lease of life.

I can even get out on my own when needed too and safely in the knowledge that I don’t have any problem getting the wheelchair in and out of the car on my own due to the hoist that was funded by the Royal British legion and the Wheelchair that was funded by the Royal British Legion.

In fact, my husband and I were so overwhelmed with the help that we received that we both went on to become caseworkers here in Spain District North.

My husband Carl is now the Chairperson of the Murcia branch and I and the Branch Community Support for our branch.

We hope that we can help more veterans in our area and get the message that the Royal British Legion here in Spain is here to help.

From a home visit to help with forms, to a visit at home or hospital if you can’t get out.Maybe you would like a phone buddy, someone to talk to. All of this vital support activity is overseen by the Legion’s central Overseas Support Team in London, who assist all Veterans who reside outside of the UK.

I’ve worked for the RBL for ten years – starting as an Administrator in the East Anglia & Essex team before moving onto welfare-related projects and then taking up the post of Team Leader, Overseas. Imanage a team of two Case Officers and currently have two Advice & Information Officers seconded to the team.

The team was assembled six months before the Covid-19 pandemic and our caseload has significantly expanded to (more than) fill our staff capacity.

Rachel Coles – Overseas Team Leader

We are extremely grateful for our network of branches and volunteers overseas who undertake a high volume of casework on our behalf – we really couldn’t do this without them!

Dianne Findlay-Craig – Caseworker

Billie Graham-Thomas and Carl Thomas Beneficiaries turned Caseworkers

I am a disabled Royal Navy Veteran I was injured in service when I was attached the Royal Marines back in 1997 and medically discharged in 1998.

“My husband and I were so overwhelmed with the help that we received that we both went on to become caseworkers here in Spain”.

‘THE BENEFICIARIES’

Ofcourse the story wouldn’t be complete without hearing just some of the stories of those who have been helped by the Legion in the recent past.

We are grateful to them for agreeing to share their stories.

NEIL SAUNDERS

would not be a viable option.

Debbie compiled a case for what he needed and a business plan which, along with an application for funding, was submitted to the RBL.

Neil was delighted when the application was successful and he was able to purchase the tools that he required to set himself up as a self-employed engineer.

Since becoming self-employed, Neil has had lots of ups and downs but is now a well-respected engineer within his industry.He works as a sub-contractor for two very big firms in Mallorca and also teaches marine refrigeration.

Neil said "I would not be in this position without the support of the Royal British Legion and the outstanding people who dedicate their free time to helping people like myself.

I hope to do the same for someone else one day".

These ladies are voluntary but with kind words and compassion we got through a bad situation to a good place.

Neil Saunders previously served in the Royal Navy as an Operator Mechanic.Following his service, he completed additional training and had a successful career as a Refrigeration Engineer.

Neil had been working for his latest company for eleven years and following a transfer to Javea Spain, he and his wife made the decision to buy a house and move to Javea permanently.

All was well and they were settling into their new life, however, after four years, his contract was suddenly terminated with no warning.

Neil felt he had nowhere to turn and described feeling the lowest he had ever been.He had a wife and two young girls to support, a Spanish mortgage and bills, but suddenly had no way of earning the money he was used to in order to manage these.

Feeling desperate, Neil contacted the Royal British Legion for help and described feeling immediately put at ease.

Pam Twissell-Cross, RBL District Community Support Coordinator, guided Neil through the process of seeking legal advice and helped him to obtain the information he needed to get help through the Spanish system.

She also assisted with emergency funds to help Neil and his family manage their immediate bills.

Debbie Brettle, RBL Volunteer Caseworker from the Javea Branch,was allocated Neil's case and made contact with him to discuss his needs and complete a full assessment.

After much thought and discussion, Neil decided that he would like to work for himself as a Marine Refrigeration Engineer.He had the qualifications for this but needed his own tools to set himself up successfully.

Neil had used all his savings to keep on top of his bills and had also received financial help from family members, so was worried that self-employment

We moved to Spain in 2007, both got jobs and a house.We moved into the last one 4 years ago.

All was going well, then COVID hit.

I was put on ERTE but had to wait 7 months for my money.My husband lost his job, so we lived on our savings until they ran out.

After COVID we went back to work but we got behind in the rent.The Royal British Legion were fantastic in assisting us with the rent.

But in the meantime we received a letter from our landlord, telling us we must vacate the house so she can put her daughter in, as she had been evicted.

So we were going to be homeless:this was summer, so no places to rent.

But we managed to get a holiday let, this is where the Royal British Legion assisted us again.Then again with the removals.

We are now in a new home and unpacking the boxes (brings back memories of military life).

Without the help of the Royal British Legion, we don’t know what would have happened to us.We cannot thenk them enough and this was a very stressful and anxious time.

Our caseworker, Bille, was amazing, also Pamela Twissell-Cross.

I wholeheartedly wish to thank The Royal British Legion District North for coming to my rescue.

In December 2021 I split up from my partner of 5 years and found that I was going to be homeless.

I contacted the RBL and they were able to help me with deposits and upfront rent, meaning I was able to continue to live in Spain.

Unfortunately fate was not done with me just yet. The management of the local Bar/Restaurant whre I was working decided that they were not able to sustain the business and closed the doors leaving myself and all the other staff hanging out to dry.

I understood the decision:as the chef I could see that the footfall we had been getting suddenly dipped dramatically leaving the boss with little else to do.

I was left to search for another job which at this time of year was exceptionally difficult, also being without transport since my partner and I split up.

I was forced to go back to the Legion and again asking for help.The Legion was quick to respond to my request for assistance.

I asked if there was any chance of repatriation to the United Kingdom.Their response was brilliant they helped me every way asked, and then some.

I have a date and accommodation in the UK in place for which I will be eternally grateful.

We would like to thank the beneficiaries, the caseworkers and the UK team who have shared their stories for this piece.

However, the number of Veterans and their dependants who need support is constantly increasing.

If you know of anyone who needs our help, or you need it yourself, you can get in touch with us using the contact details on Page 6 of this programme.

Of course, this means that we are always in need of more Volunteers to help support them – if you have the time and qualities to join our team and help to provide that vital support, please get in touch.

THE ROYALBRITISH LEGION

Improving lives every day

PAUL AND THERESA ISSITT

PAUL HUNTER

LYNDA ATKINS KEMP

National Vice Chair of The Royal British Legion

Buenosdías a todos, Good afternoon. I am very pleased indeed to be here today to launch the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal in North Spain.

De verdad, estoy contentísima estar aquí hoy para lanzar el Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal en el norte de España.

The Royal British Legion was formed 101 years ago with two main aims: to help former and serving members of the armed forces who were in need and to ensure that we remember those who given their lives in defence of our country.

While much has changed in the last century, those basic aims remain exactly as they were then.

Perhaps one of the biggest differences is that we now support veterans from the United Kingdom Armed Forces across the world, not least here in Spain where so many of those who have served in the British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force are now so happy to live.

La Royal British Legion se formó hace 101 años con dos objetivos principales: ayudar a los veteranos

y miembros actuales de las fuerzas armadas que se encontraban en necesidad y garantizar que recordemos a aquellos que dieron sus vidas en defensa de nuestro país.

Han cambiado muchas cosas en el último siglo, sin embargo esos objetivos básicos permanecen exactamente como entonces estaban.

Quizás una de las diferencias mayores es que ahora apoyamos a los veteranos de las Fuerzas Armadas del Reino Unido dondequiera que estén en todo el mundo, sobre todo aquí en España, donde muchos de los que han servido en el Ejército Británico, la Royal Navy y la Royal Air Force ahora están tan felices de vivir.

Our Poppy Appeal is also 101 years old.

It was in 1921 that we first sold poppies to raise funds to support our work.

The poppy itself has evolved over the years from the silk of the originals to our paper poppies and all sorts of other options in metal, wool and whatever else someone creative can think of to make them with.

We still sell poppies to help people to remember those who gave their lives in both world wars and in conflicts since then

WHO WE ARE

The Royal British Legion is at the heart of a national network that supports our Armed Forces community.

We're here through thick and thin ñ ensuring their unique contribution is never forgotten. We've been here since 1921 and we'll be here as long as they need us.

We are the UKís largest Armed Forces charity, with 180,000 members, 110,000 volunteers and a network of partners and charities; helping us give support wherever and

whenever itís needed.

and in the process, we raise money to help those who lived on.

Nuestro Poppy Appeal también ha cumplido los 101 años.

Fue en 1921 que vendimos por primera vez amapolas para recaudar fondos para apoyar a nuestro trabajo.

La amapola en sí ha evolucionado a lo largo de los años desde la seda de los originales hasta nuestras amapolas de papel y todo tipo de otras opciones en metal, lana y cualquier otra cosa que a alguien creativo se le ocurra hacerlas.

Todavía vendemos amapolas para ayudar a las personas a recordar a aquellos que dieron sus vidas tanto en guerras mundiales como en conflictos desde entonces y, en el proceso, recaudamos dinero para ayudar a aquellos que vivieron.

The Poppy Appeal is a very important time for the Royal British Legion, as it is when we

We provide lifelong support to serving and ex-serving personnel and their families at home and overseas.

Our support starts after one day of service and continues through life, long after service is over.

From providing expert advice and guidance, to recovery and rehabilitation, through to transitioning to civilian life ñ we can be by their side every step of the way. And itís not just members of the Armed Forces but their families too.

If there is ever a reason we can't help, our vast network will mean that we know someone who can.

are best able to talk to people about what we do and why we do it.

We are very grateful indeed to all those who help with the Appeal and to those of you who are here today to help us get things off to such an amazing start for 2023.

El Poppy Appeal es un momento muy importante para la Royal British Legion, ya que es cuando mejor podemos hablar con la gente sobre todo lo que hacemos y por qué lo hacemos.

De hecho, estamos muy agradecidos a todos los que ayudan con el llamamiento y a aquellos de ustedes que están aquí hoy para ayudarnos a tener un comienzo tan increíble para el año 2023.

Thank you all for everything that you do.

Gracias a todos por venir y por todo vuestro apoyo.

THE WORD en españolen español

REMEMB RANCE SERVICES

Javea Branch - Two Remembrance parades at the Moraira Church and at the Fisherman's Church in Javea, on Friday the11th and Sunday the 13th of November.

Orihuela Costa and District - Sunday 13 November at the Capilla de las Mil Palmeras 10.45am

La Val d'Albaida Branch - El Pasat, Albaida on Sunday the13th, meeting at 1130hrs.

Gran Alacant and La Marina Branch - Spain District North Remembrance Service on Sunday the13th of November at 14.00 hrs

The Mayor of Santa Pola will be in attendance.

The Local Head of Police and Guardia Commander will also be attending. The Gran Alacant Singers will entertain during the afternoon and a buffet is available for all attending.

Torrevieja Branch - Armistice Day Service Friday, 11th November 2022 at the Church Inmaculada Concepción Torrevieja with Father Richard Seabrook SSC officiating.

Benidorm is having a Service at the Poppy Tree on 11th November and a Remembrance Sunday Service. Details are to be confirmed.

Gandia and District Branch - Remembrance day service in the town hall in the village of Rafol de Salem at 11.30 on the 13th November. Info from: gandia.chairman@rbl.community

WOODBINE WILLIE:

Taking God and cigarettes to the front line

for its overcrowded streets and poverty. Geoffrey had grown up seeing the impact of poverty on local people.

Geoffrey followed his father and became a vicar in Leeds.

When the First World War broke out, he believed it was a cause worth fighting for. He travelled to Flanders as an army Chaplain. He experienced life on the front with the ordinary soldiers and felt that he should also share their hardships rather than getting special treatment.

Woodbine Willie became more and more saddened by the horrors he saw during the War. His poetry shows that he was gradually convinced that all war was futile.

Opinions

were divided over the role of chaplains in World War Onepoets Robert Graves and Siegfried Sasoon for example, were highly critical of them. But despite that, some became wellknown, including Woodbine Willie, who won the Military Cross (MC) for his bravery.

A measure of the impact made by the Reverend Geoffrey Studdert Kennedy, better known to the public as Woodbine Willie, is the reaction to his death in 1929, at the age of only 46.

King George V sent a telegram of condolence to his family; ex-servicemen sent a wreath with a packet of Woodbines at the centre; 100 unemployed men marched from the Labour Exchange to Worcester Cathedral to pay their respects; 1,700 people filed past his coffin in a single day as it lay in a Liverpool church.

A clue to his universal appeal comes in the words of Canon Raven of Liverpool Cathedral, who said: "We let him work himself to death… he gave his life for us".

Of course, Woodbine Willie was not the only army chaplain to achieve national prominence.

The Reverend "Tubby" Clayton helped set up a rest house for soldiers called Talbot House - which became known to the troops as Toc-H after the phonetic signalling code used by the army.

During the course of the war 185 chaplains died and three were awarded the Victoria Cross.

The Reverend Theodore Hardy was the most decorated non-combatant of WW1, winning the VC, DSO and MC.

The 54-year-old cleric ignored calls for him to retire and was killed only four weeks before the end of the war.

Geoffrey Anketell Studdert-Kennedy was born in Quarry Hill, Leeds in 1883. Quarry Hill and the east end of the city was known

He earned his nickname through the unusual way of getting the attention of troops.

"Even though he was an asthmatic he was a very heavy smoker and he used to go along the troop trains at Rouen, where he was based at the time, giving out the bible, but also packets of Woodbines to all the soldiers to send them off," said Sandra Taylor.

Biographer, Dr Linda Parker, estimates that Woodbine Willie gave away 865,000 cigarettes at his own expense.

Over the course of nearly three years, from December 1915 to September 1918, he used every spare penny of his salary from the Ministry of Defence to help his fellow soldiers.

Canon Paul Tongue, who has inherited all of Mr Studdert Kennedy's papers, said he was not prepared to stay safe behind the lines.

"He felt this was a total betrayal of the men he was supposedly supporting - he wanted to be in the thick of it with them, though he wouldn't carry arms or anything.

"There's a story about two men walking down a trench and they came across a post with a board on it saying The Vicarage.

"One of them said to his mate 'Look - the bloody vicarage' and Studdert Kennedy poked his head out and said 'And here's the bloody vicar'."

That willingness to be in the thick of the action eventually earned him an award for bravery.

"He won the Military Cross at Messines

Ridge in 1917 and brushed it off as no big deal, whereas in fact he'd been out bringing in wounded troops under fire - he was a very modest man," Mrs Taylor said.

"But, once he came back from the war he was a changed man - before the war he advocated that men should go and fight for what they believe in, for their loved ones, but after the war, having seen the horrors that he did he came back and wrote and talked about peace."

He started to write poetry, the first volume of which had sold 400,000 copies by 1922, according to Mr Tongue. Further published work, up to 1925, displayed increasing anger.

"He could have been one of the richest clergy in the land with the number of books he wrote, but... it was all given away," said Mr Tongue.

Despite being a chaplain to the king, Mr Studdert Kennedy proved he was no establishment figure by becoming a fierce critic of the hardships faced by returning soldiers.

He toured the country speaking on behalf on the Industrial Christian Fellowship.

He was due to give a talk for them in Liverpool when he fell ill and died.

This cleric, famed for his modesty and selfsacrifice, would probably have been pleased to know that the most public memorial to him in Worcester, Studdert Kennedy House, is dedicated to helping people with mental health problems.

Courtesy of Jerry Chester

The stained glass window in memory of Woodbine Willie in St Paul's church, Worcester

What do yWhat do y ou knoou kno w aboutw about case case w w or or king fking f or or The RBLThe RBL

By Susan Shaw

I am a case worker for the RBL and have been for the last 7 years.Our service is totally volunteer based,with a Co-ordinator heading up the team who allocates the cases to the case worker.

How does the co-ordinator know who needs help? It depends largely on information provided by RBL branches about the people in need,in their community.Calls are also made by the general public to the Co-ordinator and she also receives information via UK based staff where local people in Spain call the UK Call Centre number.

Information is also passed via the consulates and other charities,with whom the RBL work.

Whilst the RBL support is focussed on Veterans and their families,support in the form of information and guidance can also be offered to members of the general public.

Once the cases are allocated,there is a 48 hour requirement to follow it up with the person in need; however in these difficult times of the Covid -19 pandemic,much of the work is carried out over the phone or via email.If this is difficult because of age or infirmity,a visit will be organised although the case worker has to obey the rules with people not in their ‘bubble’:wearing face masks,using sanitiser,sitting outside where possible and maintaining a social distance.

The information gathered is to ensure the person seeking the support obtains the right sort of help, perhaps funding for a wheelchair or a hospital bed, but once the caseworker visits,he or she may notice other things which would help the person to remain independent:

It could be a shower chair,with a commode facility, where the person can be wheeled to the toilet or the shower,or a rise and recline style bed.

While the caseworker is talking to the individual, he/she may notice that the person’s teeth do not fit well,making speech difficult or perhaps they are hard of hearing:

The caseworker will normally ask to see the kitchen and the bathroom,as these are areas which may be refurbished so that the person can more easily keep themselves clean and manage meal preparation more effectively.New white goods may also be sourced,or a wet room created.

Other equipment that enables mobility could include a stairlift,wheelchair,mobility scooter:

Support could include repatriation to a care facility in the UK or support to gain qualifications to earn a living,or in the case of people in prison,visits to ensure that they are able to speak English to someone and gain support in terms of clothing or books in English.

Assistance may also be offered for funerals and

where requested,a standard bearer will attend.

For vulnerable people living alone,we work with Cruz Roja to support their pendant alarm system,so that if the person falls or feels unwell,they can talk to someone at Cruz Roja,in English,and if necessary,an ambulance will be sent to their home.

Help may also be given to complete the Attendance allowance forms or the Personal Independence Payment made by the UK,or to register with social services,in Spain.

There are many other ways in which people have been helped and during this period of Remembrance,it is important to continue to support the RBL with donations,so that this work may be carried out,As things stand in Spain,now,we will need financial support from the UK,for the first time in December or early in the New Year.The money raised in Spain stays in Spain for supporting UK veterans who have fallen on hard times.This year has been a difficult time in terms of fund raising,as we have been unable to host social events, as we normally would.

We are also seeking more case workers,so that our work may continue.Full training will be given and a period of mentorship will support the new caseworker.If you feel that you have time to help us to continue this work,then please call the Coordinator on 0034 676 451 780