Blazing a trail

The ‘foreign legion’ is booming in Spain, thanks to friendship and sunshine, reports Amy Rowe

From Legion Summer 2009

There’s one big reason why Spain has always been a favoured holiday destination for Brits and, in recent years, the perfect place to retire: the weather.

For the members of the Torrevieja Branch, which is on the Costa Blanca, it couldn’t be more perfect. “It’s blue skies here as far as the eye can see,” reports Membership Secretary Maureen Panter.

But she could easily be talking about the branch’s future, rather than the climate. Since its humble beginnings in 1989, it has gone from strength to strength. Many ex-pats have chosen to retire to this warm and sunny region of northern Spain and when they get there, they join the Legion.

Maureen explains: “When my husband and I came here and heard about the Legion we thought we’d join, as it’s a great way of meeting people and doing something worthwhile at the same time.”
This is an important year for the busy members of the Torrevieja Branch, because on St George’s Day it will celebrate its 20th anniversary. Vice Chairman Steve Ironmonger is dealing with most of the preparations and says everything is in place. “We’re all very excited about the chance to get together and celebrate our history
as a branch,” he says.

The branch members pride themselves on their ability to mix social events with high-calibre fundraising. In 2004, the group managed to raise ¤3,000 for the Poppy Appeal – and totals have improved year on year since then.

Four years later, and the group has managed to raise more than ¤12,000 for the Appeal. The amounts are even more impressive given that three new Legion branches have sprung up in the surrounding area, meaning that the Torrevieja branch has had some healthy competition.

Community spirit
But none of this success could have been achieved without the help and understanding of the local population. “Quite a few restaurants support us by holding fundraisers in aid of the Poppy Appeal,” Maureen explains.  “We also had 2,000 books donated to us and we’ve held table-top sales.”

The integration of the Torrevieja Branch into the Spanish community has never been better. “We often get questions about the Legion and its work,” she says.

Opting for a ‘softly, softly’ approach rather than a hard sell, members invite people to the branch’s social events. “If they like it, then that’s fine, and I’ll give them an application form,” she says, with an air of pride.

Not only do branch members welcome the opportunity to spread the word, they also enjoy getting stuck into the local way of life. Maureen and her husband Peter have both taken Spanish lessons, as have many other members of the branch. “Even if you get it all wrong, they appreciate you’re trying,” Maureen chuckles, remembering numerous conversations with locals who have, in turn, asked Maureen for help with their English.

Like many branches, educating people about the Legion’s work with ex-service personnel and their families is just as important as receiving donations. “One lady said to me: ‘Isn’t it time we stopped collecting for the Poppy Appeal? The war has been over for so long.’ I thought: ‘Hello?’ and then I reeled off about six conflicts that we have been involved in since WWII. She just didn’t realise.”

Maureen is all too well aware of them, as her 21-year-old grandson
has just returned from a six-month tour in Afghanistan. “It’s been
a really worrying time” she admits,“but now he’s back and safe, I do feel a lot happier.”

Despite the distance that separates members from relatives and friends in Britain, it is clear that the folk in the Torrevieja Branch have got each other. And, as Steve reminds Legion, “We’ve got the sunshine. I could send you some in a package if you like?”