The Royal British Legion Orihuela Costa Branch marked D-Day with a special concert at The Salt Church in Los Montesinos on Saturday, 6 June. The evening brought together music, remembrance and fundraising in support of the Poppy Appeal. Guests were entertained by the Costa Blanca International Band, conducted by Jeremy Davies, alongside the De Costa Singers, directed by Jacques van der Linden.
The event was organised by Mary and Malcolm Rusbridge, members of the branch. Malcolm opened the evening with a welcome as he explained that proceeds from ticket sales and tombola tickets would be donated to the Poppy Appeal. A fundraising table was also available, helping to raise further support for the charity.
The date gave the occasion particular significance, as 6 June commemorates the Allied landings on the beaches of Normandy. A highlight of the evening was the attendance of D-Day veteran Joe Billet, affectionately known to many as “Joe the cat man”. The audience heard a short account of Joe’s life and service before giving him a standing ovation.
At 99, Joe remains independent, sociable and respected. He attended with his long-term friend Rose, who continues to support him.
The programme opened with a medley of familiar songs performed by the band. Nostalgic favourites included “White Cliffs of Dover”, “Sailing” and “The Sound of Silence”. The band also accompanied the choir, whose members, mostly from the Netherlands, sang with enthusiasm despite English not being their first language. Their performance helped create a warm, engaging atmosphere.
By the end of the evening, the whole audience was singing, with some even dancing in the aisles. The concert closed with “We’ll Meet Again” and a lively rendition of “Sweet Caroline”. Malcolm concluded by thanking the church, technical and catering teams, the band and the choir for making the evening a memorable success.
