Benidorm has honoured British war veterans and remembered fallen service personnel during an annual Royal British Legion ceremony attended by hundreds of spectators along the Costa Blanca city’s Levante seafront.
The Poppy Appeal event took place on Saturday, October 17, bringing together representatives of the British and Spanish authorities, military veterans and members of the local British community for a day of remembrance and fundraising.
Mayor Toni Pérez led the commemorations alongside Anthony Crabb, defence attaché at the British Embassy in Spain, as the city reaffirmed its longstanding ties with British residents and visitors.
Bagpipes lead veterans’ parade along Levante beach
The procession began shortly before 11am on Avenida de Castellón, with members of the Royal British Legion carrying their standards through the city.
The march was accompanied by the Torrevieja Pipes and Drums band, whose bagpipes provided a traditional soundtrack as participants made their way along the Levante beach promenade.
Hundreds of onlookers watched the procession, applauding the participants and stopping to take photographs, with particular attention given to the older veterans taking part.
Among them was Raymond Barber, a 94-year-old British resident who has lived in Benidorm for more than 40 years. He wore the same uniform he had used when serving in the Royal Navy more than seven decades ago.
The procession culminated at the gardens outside the Aula del Mar, which hosted the commemorative ceremony for the first time.
Three minutes of silence for fallen soldiers
The formal tribute began with three minutes of silence in memory of British military personnel who lost their lives in armed conflicts.
Volunteers who help organise fundraising activities for veterans and their families were also recognised for their contribution.
Other attendees included British vice-consul in Alicante Sara Munsterhjel, Royal British Legion trustee Stephen Lee, the organisation’s district chaplain in Spain, Reverend Richard Seabrook, and local branch president Paul Kane.
Following the silence, Mayor Pérez welcomed those gathered and paid tribute to the men and women who had served in the armed forces.
He described it as an honour to participate in the annual event, highlighting the courage and commitment of those who had defended freedom, justice and peace.
Pérez also underlined the importance of the British community to Benidorm, acknowledging both the thousands of holidaymakers who visit each year and those who settled on the Costa Blanca decades ago.
He said British residents had become an essential part of the city’s social, cultural and tourism life.
What is the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal?
The Poppy Appeal is an annual fundraising campaign organised by the Royal British Legion, using the sale of poppies to support former British service personnel and their families.
The campaign helps people who have served in conflicts since the First World War, with the red poppy serving as a widely recognised symbol of remembrance across the United Kingdom and British communities overseas.
According to Benidorm City Council, the organisation distributes around 25 million fabric poppies worldwide and has more than 700,000 members. Approximately 4,000 members are based in Spain, including more than 1,000 in Alicante province.
The Benidorm ceremony concluded with the national anthems of Spain and the United Kingdom, followed by a final march by the standards.
The event served as both a tribute to those who lost their lives in military service and a reminder of the ongoing support needed by veterans and their families.
For Benidorm’s established British community, the annual gathering also offered an opportunity to come together, preserve a longstanding tradition and recognise the contribution of those who served.