Winter 2006

WELLINGTON SAVED!

We heard that there were plans to remove the bust of Lord Wellington from the great Plaza Mayor in Salamanca. He is there because he liberated the university city in 1812-1813 from Napoleon's forces and, according to eye-witness accounts, received the joy of the entire populace. Our letter was published in the press, our President, His Grace the Duke of Wellington sent a formal complaint to the Spanish Minister of Culture and the move has been dropped!

NEW TOURS FOR NEXT YEAR

We tried out our two new up-coming Theme tours, namely Old Curiosities of Old Madrid and Madrid & the Civil War. Both will be shown on our web site for January 2007. Also, because of demand we will be offering a rather splendid VIP tour, again it will be mentioned in the New Year.

MERRY CHRISTMAS & A GREAT 2007!

Time once again to say "Merry Christmas" to all our Members, new ones, seasoned campaigners and our growing list of Life Members. We have had a smashing year and now, as from 11 December, we shall all be taking a much needed break. Our Chairman is off to be with his wife Connie in Missouri, Bruce our Editor to enjoy Boston, Jimmy will be in north London, Fran on the Spanish coast and Terry hiking in the mountains, or so he says! We shall be back and offering the very best of history tours as from 24th January.

Summer 2006

WELLINGTON'S BATTLEFIELD RE-VISITED

Certainly one of the highlights so far for 2006 was our tour of the Peninsular War battlefields for the military officers from NATO & SHAPE (Supreme Headquarters for Allied Powers in Europe). Our Chairman, clearly excited at being the historian cum guide to American, British, Dutch & German officers, met them at Barajas airport with private bus. The five day 'campaign' included an extensive tour of the battlefields of Talavera (where General Wellesley earned the title WELLINGTON) and Salamanca plus the fortress town of Ciudad Rodrigo where we placed a wreath to the fallen at the Lesser breach. With the help of Nicola our winery friend in the medieval town of Toro we were able to present the Mayor with a framed portrait of the Duke. In return he and most of the town put on a splendid buffet lunch for us (the local wine was sampled by all!). The affair reached the press and we shall post the front page article soon.

SAN ISIDRO IN MADRID

As always we find ourselves very busy in May. The famous Dos de Mayo parade and celebrations and the 15th the city's saint's Day had the entire city in holiday mood and we did our bit by taking many new Members to join in the fun. The Chairman did a dozen play by play bullfights and once again this proves to be one of our major offers for Members. We must mention Padre Thyglow, Life Member who recorded his seventh trip to Madrid and took four fights in and was first to do our Civil War tour.

COMMENTS FROM MEMBERS

Do please keep sending in your comments and photos. Our dear Editor, Bruce, in Boston, tells us he is amazed how many he gets and always with a smiling Chairman in the middle!  Bruce tells us he has many ideas for updating the web site so do, all you members, please check out our web site from time to time.

Spring 2006

PROTECTING THE PENINSULAR WAR SITES

Again the Society has been deeply involved with the on-going road development of the battlefield of Salamanca (7kms south of the great university city). Although the widening of the road running through one of the most unspoilt of all the battlefields could not be stopped, the Spanish authorities, from pressure from His grace the Duke of Wellington, the British Embassy and the Society, did make sure that as little damage as possible was done. Photos of the project will appear later this year. 

THE MAY CORRIDAS IN MADRID

Our poor Chairman was quite hoarse after giving a record eighteen play-by-play bullfights at Ventas during the San Isidro fiestas (12 May to 6 June). Exactly how he manages to obtain such sought after bullfight tickets remains a mystery to us and a secret to him!

We do ask for those Members who were lucky enough to sign up for the fights to send one or two of their photos as we are planning to have a larger section of Los Toros on the web site.  Editors note:  If your photo includes the Chairman, it stands a much better change of being included. 

NEW TOURS FOR OUR MEMBERS

The Theme Tour ‘From Saint to the Inquisition’ has changed to ´The Hapsburgs Are Coming!’ This is so we can incorporate more of the 200 years the Hapsburgs ruled Spain. We still visit the San Isidro Museum and the church of the city’s Patron Saint. Our new Theme Tour about

Madrid during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) will include an optional bus ride out to the town of Brunete where much of the fighting took place. Also a visit to the bunkers that marked the line between the defenders of the capital and Franco´s besieging forces.