The RBL Murcia Branch would like to say a huge thank you to the Helping Hands charity who put on an Elton John Tribute night. They donated a part of the ticket sales and the RBL held a raffle. The evening raised over 750€ for The RBL Murcia Branch. The event was organised by Linda Ruth Cook and her team.
Thank you to Carlton Entertainments and Events Management for taking the trouble to organise the travel permissions for Nearly Elton and for engineering the evening.
We would also like to thank all the people and businesses who helped raise this great amount towards helping our serving personnel, veterans and their families in our region and beyond.
To all that attended and donated; a huge Thank You.
To all the local businesses who donated prizes; Thank You.
To Mariano’s Camposol A; Thank you.
Mr Nigel Burchill (AKA NigElvis) pledged to raise funds for The RBL Murcia Branch for fellow service men and woman, their families and their dependents to help them through hard times and to help raise awareness of the branch. His help, along with Cat’s Bar, Camposol A, Mr Bernie Mac and of course the Murcia Branch volunteers and every single person who attended, including a young boy of 5 years of age who gave his pocket money, managed to raise 1,050€ between the two events.
We would like to say thank you to everyone who took part. It meant a great deal to Mr Burchill himself, but also to all the Veterans that it will go to help.
Thanks must also go to:
Lesley Sampson, Poppy Appeal Coordinator
Lynn Symonds, Branch Secretary
David Haynes, Social Secretary
Carl Thomas, Chairman (who was also doing the music)
Billie Graham-Thomas, Welfare Caseworker and Branch Community Support
Poppy Appeal Launch (PAL21) – Saturday 16th October
For those of you not familiar with this event, it marks the start of the year’s main fund-raising period during which time RBL Branches across District North Spain collect money for the Poppy Appeal. This money is then, in turn spent on Beneficiaries within the District in Spain.
COVID restrictions will be monitored and this event could be amended, curtailed or even cancelled, but at present it looks set to go ahead.
There will be a number of guests including:
HE Hugh Elliot HM Ambassador to Spain
Sr Jose Perez, Mayor of Benidorm
Joe Falzon Esq, National Vice Chairman TRBL
Brig Lisa Keetley, SBO Spain
Capt Ian Clarke RN, DA Madrid
Mr Bob Chambers, Overseas Representative on the RBL Membership Council
Mrs Fi Hedges, Overseas MSO
There will be Branch Standards, including our own Murcia Branch Standard (Terry Murphy), on parade as well as other Ex-Service Association Standards.
There will be a short parade that is led by the Torrevieja Pipes and Drums, (one of which is from our Branch, Brian Day), followed by Standard Bearers, District Committee, Guests and Veterans. There will be a short ceremony after which the Standards march off and the ceremony ends.
You can make your own arrangements for lunch after the parade or you can book lunch that has been arranged in the Hotel Marina for the RBL. It will be a buffet lunch costing €15 which is to be paid on the day at the restaurant. Drinks are not included and will have to be purchased separately at the restaurant. This might be a good opportunity to meet up with like-minded veterans and even old comrades. Lunch has to be booked when you pay for your coach seat and has to be done by the latest 7th October. The Branch voted to hire a coach so that as many of the Branch could attend without the hassle of having to drive themselves and be concerned with parking. A 55 seater coach has been booked and obviously we want to fill it. RBL members will have priority and then any seats left over will be offered to anyone who would like to attend. It is not compulsory to attend the parade, so if you want a day out in Benidorm you are welcome to do so. The coach does not have drop down disabled access so there is 3 or 4 steps on entry. Wheelchairs can be accommodated in the luggage hold.
The cost of the coach is:
€12 per RBL member
€18 per non member
You will be issued with a receipt and in the event of PAL21 being cancelled due to COVID you will get a refund if you produce your receipt, so don’t lose it!
You can book your seat now by paying:
Lynn Symonds in Cehegin
David Haynes in Camposol
The exact timings and pickups (Camposol/Cehegin) are yet to be confirmed, but the idea is to get to Benidorm with time to have a coffee before the parade and to leave Benidorm at approx 5pm. There will be a comfort break at Elche Services out and back as there are no facilities on board. That leaves you a couple of hours in the afternoon to do whatever you wish before returning home. It is an enjoyable day and the committee hopes that as many of you as possible will come and enjoy it with us and support the Poppy Appeal.
If you are experiencing difficulties be they financial or personal please do not hesitate to contact us.
We are here to help you.
To find out more about The Royal British Legion Murcia Branch, please email any of the below:
Murcia.chairman@rbl.community
Murcia.secretary@rbl.community
Murcia.bcs@rbl.community