Javea Branch Chairman foreword and thanks for the Armed Forces Day event held in Torrevieja
Dear Friends, Branch Members and our Viewers
On Saturday the 24th of February several of the Javea Branch committee and members attended the Royal British Legion Armed Forces Day in Torrevieja, including Debbie and Dave Brettle, Nick Keen, Peter McNair and myself. The event which is run on behalf of Spain District North and undertaken by Torrevieja Branch under the Chairlady, Pamela Wild, was a fantastic day out with all the ceremony and professionalism that can be guaranteed and expected in Spain District North, with dignities from the Town Mayor to the British Consulate Attaché attending.
The ceremony is given in both English and Spanish and is open to both communities and is held in the church of the Immaculate Conception in the heart of the town. As you will see from the photos the pipes and drums led a parade of standards under the watchful eye of the Parade Marshall, Dave Brettle and was followed by the dignitaries and members of the branches and community who all parade to, and into the church via the standards lining the doors outside the church. You will also notice that our branch van was also proudly on display in front of the church with the poppy and armed forces logos proudly displayed.
Several readings were read from members of the District Committee including the Chairman, Jack Kemp, and dignities, these were proceeded and followed by several hymns, the Padre then give his speech and prayers which were then followed by an act of remembrance with the Last Post including the lowering of the standards, two minutes silence and then Reveille and the raising of the standards. There was a poem given in English and Spanish by two young local sisters, then the national anthems after final prayers. The standards were then paraded out to line the doors and exits for dignitaries and visitors to pass by on their way out. We then went for refreshments at a local restaurant which was a fitting end to an amazing day well laid on and undertaken by the Torrevieja branch and the District Committee. Our thanks go to Pam Wild, Jack Kemp and Nick Keen and their teams for all the work they do on the day, “service not self” was definitely the word of the day on their parts, once again showing the hard work and dedication of our district, branches and members across the district sphere.
My thanks go out to those named above, all who attended and all who support the Royal British Legion here in Spain.
Mike Huggins
Chairman
Javea Branch.
