Remembrance Day service with T.A.P.A.S Choir in Coín

As the world prepares to mark the 106th anniversary of the Armistice that ended World War I, the Royal British Legion (RBL) branch in Coín invites the community to join in a poignant Remembrance Service honouring veterans and those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country.

The service will take place on Monday, November 11, at 11.30am, at the serene Cemetery Chapel in Coín. This annual event, which is a cornerstone for local military and expat traditions on the Costa del Sol, promises to be an uplifting occasion with a mixture of solemn reflections and communal song. Everyone is welcome to come and pay respects in a spirit that promotes unity.

Organised by the dedicated Coín branch of the RBL, Britain’s leading Armed Forces charity, the ceremony will feature heartfelt hymns led by the TAPAS Choir, the Andalucia Performing Arts Society. The TAPAS Choir, renowned for its emotive performances will join the congregation to sing songs that echo past sacrifices. Local RBL representatives, including members of the Riders Branch, will join civic leaders such as the Mayor of Coín and town councillors, along with representatives from the Guardia Civil, for the laying of honorary wreaths. This collaborative effort shows a long-lasting relationship between British expatriate community and Spanish authorities to preserve the memory of world conflicts.

The event is inspired by timeless words that capture a call to remember. In his famous poem In Flanders Fields, written in 1915 by Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae:

On the fields of Flanders, poppies swell.
The rows of crosses are arranged in a row.
The sky is ours; mark it!
The larks are still singing bravely
Gunfire below is barely audible. We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Now we lie, having been loved and lying.
In Flanders. Let’s have a fight with our enemy:
We throw you our failing hands
You can hold the torch.
If you break faith with those who will die
Even though the poppies are growing, we will not sleep.
In the Flanders Fields

These verses are symbolised by the red poppy that is worn around the globe during Remembrance Week. They remind people to pass the torch to future generations to honour and support the fallen and serve personnel, as well as their families. And to uphold values such peace and freedom, for which many sacrificed their lives.

The Coín service takes place at the same time as a broader wave of Remembrance events across Spain’s British Legion branches, from Mollina and Loja to Mojácar and Pinoso, where communities unite for wreath-layings, respectful silences, and entertaining performances. In the UK, at the Royal Albert Hall, the Royal British Legion is hosting a national Festival of Remembrance. Veterans from D-Day will be featured, highlighting the global significance of these observances.

Linda Chadburn, Treasurer of TAPAS, explained the service’s significance: “We Will Remember Them… Please come and join in, with the TAPAS Choir, at this very moving service.” The RBL recommends that those who are unable to attend the service in person wear a poppy, or contribute to the annual Poppy appeal, which provides vital support to veterans.

As poppies bloom once more – real and symbolic – the Coín community stands ready to hold the torch high. Lest we forget.