In late March the memorial garden, that had been established at the Capilla de las Mil Palmeras by the Orihuela and Costa and District Branch of the RBL over ten years ago, and used as a place of comfort and in countless ceremonies during the intervening years, was vandalised for the second time by mindless idiots. On this occasion the plant pots were smashed, flowers stolen and the cross of Jesus Christ was also removed from the memorial stone.
Although the local police were informed in Pilar de la Horadada, they were unable to find the culprits.
Despite the fact that the branch committee of the RBL was removed by the District Committee some months earlier, and a number of members suspended from the RBL, for their criticism of District, the branch effectively sidelined and unable to meet or carry out any fundraising activities, the former ceremonial member, Eddie Coleman, was so disgusted at the condition of the garden that he set about restoring it to it’s former glory.
Francesca Samper of Pompas Funebres donated a new statue of Jesus, Lords Wood Houses manufactured and donated a new cross and Eddie Coleman spent many hours cleaning up the area, refurbishing and repairing the headstone and re-affixing the cross.
Now, the garden and it’s trappings are a truly fitting memorial that can be used once again to honour those who have passed.
Unfortunately, however, the local RBL branch continues to be in a state of limbo, with it’s former officers resolute in their view that the District Committee have acted illegally in removing them from office, and more than six months after submitting their appeal, accompanied by independent statements alleging bullying by the District Chairman, Jack Kemp, both the Membership Council, and the RBL Complaints Committee appear to be sitting on the fence, unable or unwilling to make a decision.
Meanwhile, despite paying an annual fee, almost 140 members of the RBL in Spain are unable to meet as they continue to be without a branch, and more importantly, having raised almost half a million euro in recent years, 30% of all RBL Poppy Appeal income in Spain District North, they are unable to carry out any fundraising activities.
It would appear that ‘Service not self’ is hardly the motto being applied by the charity in this part of Spain.
