British Pathé Reviews the Year 1955
The source for the information contained in this chapter is the partial archive of the newspaper La Voz de Galicia found in the local library. Some of the information garnered has been included elsewhere. I have focused mostly on a half-page section entitled, Ferrol Al Dia (Ferrol Update). The archive does not have Monday newspapers, presumably the presses did not run that day.
The newspapers contained a little information about the previous year 1954.
The electrical energy consumption for the whole of Spain rose by a meager 500 Kwh "due to drought." The severe housing shortage persisted with "few dwellings available and very expensive rents." The solutions most often employed were "subletting and the living together of a newly married couple with one set of parents."
Bazan-Ferrol was not above running some errands for the bigwigs.
The photograph on the right shows an index card from May 13, 1955, which recorded the purchase of (presumably twelve) folding chairs plus six meters of green-coloured canvas and six meters of red-coloured canvas.
These items were destined for the deck of the coast guard vessel named "Azor" which doubled as a yatch for General Franco during his summer vacations. This video from the year 1963 shows him and the crew aboard Azor hunting sperm whales off the Basque coast. Warning: Animal lovers may find the images disturbing (End of Warning).
When I was a child there was a satirical magazine called "La Codorniz" (The Hen). One day the report/scandal spread about Ferrol that the magazine had dared to publish an official photograph of General Franco standing proud beside a large fish he had caught, and beneath it the deliberately ambiguous caption, "El Cachalote de Franco Pesa 600 Kilos," which could be interpreted as "Franco's Whale Weighs Six Hundred Kilograms" or, on a malicious bent, "Franco The Whale Weighs Six Hundred Kilograms." The choice was left up to the reader.
| 5. | All 20-year-old Spaniards must solicit inscription in the recruitment lists of the Navy. Failure to comply will bring fines of up to 1,000 Pesetas. The age for full military discharge is forty-five years. |
| 6. |
An anonymous individual wins half a million Pesetas with a 14/14 sports lottery. Traditional harbour swimming contest at 1:00 PM. Distance: 300 meters. Prizes donated by P.Y.S.B.E. and by the Port Public Works Authority among others. |
| 8. | Oil tanker "Almirante Manuel Vierna" (above) left port on its maiden voyage (it had been launched on May 31, 1954). |
| 12. | Town Hall will verify compliance with a 1954 law requiring school attendance for all children six to twelve years old. |
| 20. | Two Italian and two Dutch vessels seek refuge in the harbour from the stormy weather. |
| 23. |
A share of the Spanish lottery jackpot lands in Ferrol, worth 600,000 Pesetas. Everyone is asked to donate money to the premier soccer club of the city, Ferrol. Generous public response, more than 20,000 Pesetas was collected by the first of February. |
| 28. | The families of the two fishermen drowned in the bay on November 29 are handed a subsidy of 3,000 Pesetas each. |
| 3. | Two cruisers, two destroyers and a torpedo boat left port at 10:20 AM. Two to three miles offshore a steam pipe ruptured in the cruiser "Méndez Núñez" and the subsequent explosion killed three sailors and injured two boiler officers, one of whom died ashore. The incident was not given coverage on the state newsreel. |
| 4. | A cortege of thousands accompanied the burial of the four navymen killed yesterday. |
| 6. |
The condition of the surviving boiler officer improves. The same flotilla of the 3rd less the damaged cruiser sailed away in the afternoon. |
| 8. | Costa Rican oil tanker "Darnel" entered port after suffering the explosion of a boiler, 4 crew dead. |
| 18. |
Donations are still needed to purchase a washing machine for the Destitute Seniors Home (drive started November 18, 1954). The collection for Ferrol soccer club surpasses 30,000 Pesetas (drive started January 23). Oil tanker "Darnel" left port in the morning. |
| 8. | Snow falls in the city. Minimum temperature recorded: -2°C. |
| 9. | Town Hall decrees that chimneys must be swept clean or the landlord will be fined. |
| 10. | "Coldest day of the winter thus far." Snowflurries. Temperatures hovered around the freezing point all day long and the surrounding hills are covered with snow. "This is the coldest winter in recent memory." |
| 13. | Solemn Te Deum at 12:30 PM in San Julián Church to commemorate the Day of the Pope and the sixteenth year of his tenure. |
| 20. | Civil Government bans public dancing from March 27 to April 8. |
| 23. | Paving work on Plaza de España has finished (begun on December 29, 1954). |
| 24. |
Launch of oil tanker "Puertollano" at 3:45 PM. The following record of the event co-opts the newsreel's intro for show. The actual newsreel, ten minutes long, was first shown on Monday April 4, 1955.
Official Spanish Newsreel NO-DO 639 B Voice-Over Translated: In the Ferrolian shipyards of Empresa Nacional Bazán the oil tanker with the largest displacement ever built in Spain is ready to be launched. It is owned by the national enterprise Elcano, and of these a series of eight is planned which will be completed in the year 1957. The boat displaces 26,500 tonnes, but others displacing 32,000 tonnes will be built shortly. Mr. Planell the Minister of Industry comes to preside over the launching ceremony. Comes the turn of the solemn blessing of the vessel. Mr. Planell's wife is the ship's godmother. Puertollano's mayor is also in attendance, placename borne by the oil tanker. The vessel slides backwards to the water. These boats will permit a substantial savings in foreign currency, for presently it is necessary to pay many freights to foreign boats. The national enterprise Elcano fulfills thus one of the fundamental missions of its constitution, to equip Spain with efficient boats like the "Puertollano," the biggest one built in our nation. |
| 3. | Palm Sunday. Via Crucis with the Stations of the Cross distributed around Plaza de Armas. |
| 1. | In women's basketball Bazan defeated Herculinas 41 to 4. Bazan was "much superior...brilliant undefeated champion." |
| 3. |
The new municipal library opens to a full house. Located on the second floor of Town Hall, right wing, it has 100 seating spaces. Reading hours are 5:00-9:00 PM. Rotating blackouts are scheduled from 8:00 AM to 12:00 noon. |
| 6. |
Work on the artificial beach (above) has begun. Editorial urges continuation. Final phase of the refurbishing work on the Batallones soccer field (begun on March 17, 1954). Editorial recommends letting the grass grow undisturbed one year. |
| 12. | Closing arguments stage in the trial of Josefina Regueira Romero at the Palace of Justice in A Coruña over the stabbing incident of June 21, 1954. It was proven that the 28-year-old (married) woman had been sexually harassed by Arturo López Rodríguez. She complained to the man's superiors but they did nothing. The corporal then proceeded to slander her publicly, even in front of her husband. At this point the woman pulled out a kitchen knife and stabbed the corporal six times. An army captain witnessed the incident and intervened, whereupon she lost consciousness. The prosecutor asks for a 21-year jail term. The defence asks for a discharge or a minimum sentence. "A very numerous public" followed the proceedings. "Many in the public gallery had come from Ferrol." |
| 14. | Josefina Regueira Romero is sentenced to nine years in prison and the payment of 75,000 Pesetas to the heirs of Arturo López Rodríguez. |
| 22. |
About a hundred children put on a musical show at the municipal park under the direction of Manuel Pérez de Arévalo (see month of November) and two others.
|
| 27. | "Brilliant athletic exhibition" by Bazan apprentices at the stadium to mark the end of courses. A track and field competition was followed by a gymnastics show performed by "hundreds of apprentices perfectly arrayed." Afterward the athletes paraded downtown preceded by a bugle-and-drum band. |
| 28. | Five submarines arrived at the base: D-2, D-3, G-7 (above) General Mola and General Sanjurjo. |
| 30. | Navy Soccer Tournament final at 6:30 PM. Thousands were expected to watch. The match finished scoreless. |
| 7. |
Whale meat is back on sale, at 12 Pesetas/kilogram. Arrival of USS Lewis Hancock and USS McGowan (above). The U.S. Marines strolled through the city. The warships offered guided tours to Ferrolians between 1:00 and 5:00 PM on the 10th. |
| 9. | The local group of Sección Femenina will represent Spain alongside another group in a folklore meet held in Nice and Pescara (Italy). Many countries will participate: Yugoslavia, Germany, Italy, France, Great Britain, from Africa, etc. |
| 13. |
U.S. Marines beat Bazan 43-39 in a friendly basketball game. The official summer holidays of Empresa Nacional Bazán will extend from 12:45 PM on Friday July 15 to Sunday July 31 (cf. July 23, 1954). |
| 19. | There will be more hours of nighttime lighting in the downtown gardens. |
| 22. |
Arrival of French corvette "Le Boulonnais" in the early morning. There was an official reception and the French sailors toured the shipyard. Crippled Liberian vessel "Rolla" was towed into harbour around 11:00 AM. |
| 23. |
Debut of travelling circus "Las Américas." Heavy thunderstorm in the afternoon with hailstones the size of "matchboxes" or "sugar cubes." |
| 24. |
Public tours of Le Boulonnais are on between 2:00 and 5:00 PM. Heavy afternoon thunderstorm with hail. |
| 26. | Le Boulonnais sailed away at 8:00 AM approximately. |
| 27. | Heavy thunderstorms continue. Today the hailstones were the size of "walnuts, billiard balls and tennis balls." An eyewitness reported seeing "several birds brought down by the hail." |
| 31. | The Group of Choirs and Dances of Sección Femenina returned tonight from the international meet having earned second prize. The Ferrolian group received a standing ovation in Nice and was offered several work contracts. The troupe also did tourism in Montpellier, Monte Carlo, Monaco and Cannes. A member of the party gambled in Montecarlo and won 5,000 French francs. The girls readily admitted that Yugoslavia had won first prize deservedly. |
| 3. | Summertime charity raffle stand in the downtown gardens was inaugurated by the admiral with other officials present and was blessed by the parish priest (cf. August 24, 1954). |
| 12. |
Snipe class regattas in the bay. Distribution of U.S.A. Food Aid packages of milk and butter to needy families. |
| 13. | The Group of Choirs and Dances of Sección Femenina heads to Portugal. |
| 17. | Editorial remonstrates that the railway station is antiquated and that a new one is needed urgently. |
| 20. |
Resounding success of the Group of Choirs and Dances in Portugal. Men's and women's friendly basketball matches at the municipal park between Bazan and University of Heidelberg. |
| 23. | Debut of the puppet show of Maese Villarejo at 6:00 and 11:00 PM in the municipal park. |
| 26. | Forest fires in the vicinity of Ferrol burn an estimated 50,000 trees. |
| 30. |
Article praises Bazan pivot Manuel Pardo Abad. Pardo "stands out for his long stride and scoring ability." He was twice selected to play for the national team. His passion for the sport coincided with the arrival of Rutgis [sic] to Ferrol. "Last January he was picked to play in the Spanish five against a U.S. Air Force team based in England. The Spanish side won two of the three games played." In Pardo's opinion Bazan ranks fourth or fifth in Spain. Artificial lighting test for Manuel Rivera Stadium has failed. There is not enough power available and the project has been dropped. |
| 31. |
Requiem Mass for the Marquis of Amboage (above) in San Julián Church at 11:00 AM. This Mass marks the end of Fiestas de Ferrol. Field hockey match at 8:00 PM pitted two teams of Bazan apprentices. Final score: Blue Shirts 6, Red Shirts 5. Friendly basketball game between Bazan and the Portuguese champion Vasco de Gama at 9:00 PM. Persistent rain. Final score: Bazan 41, Vasco de Gama 27. Pardo turned down offers from basketball teams in Madrid and in Barcelona, opting to stick with Bazan. |
| 7. | Yesterday American documentaries were shown in Capitol movie house at 4:00 PM courtesy of the "Propaganda Service of the U.S. Embassy in Madrid." Full house. The public left "pleased." There will be a repeat showing today at 4:00 PM. |
| 10. |
17-year-old son burns down parents' house. Electricity comes to the last hamlets of the municipality. Collection tables for the yearly levy in benefit of the fascist Youth Front will be set up outside the stadium. By a law signed in 1940 everyone needs to show the emblem purchased with the levy to attend any public spectacle including soccer games. |
| 17. | Two Bazan workers were killed about 11:00 AM when they were struck by "the braking lever of an overhead cable." |
| 21. | About 7:00 PM the Bazan bus careened off the road. "The vehicle ended in the brambles, leaning on two wheels." Ropes and chains were used to lift the vehicle upright. No one was hurt in the accident. |
| 23. | Ten scholarships were awarded to low-income students by the high school. |
| 26. | American destroyers USS Daly (above) and USS Smalley arrived at 10:00 AM. |
| 29. | A 30-year-old electrician died from injuries sustained in a workplace accident on the morning of the 28th. |
| 5. | Tomorrow Thursday all high school students must attend the ceremonies marking the start of the 1955-56 school year. There will be a "Mass of the Holy Spirit" in Santa Lucía Church at 10:30 AM. Note: I never heard of this church (End of Note). At 12:00 noon a solemn academic function will be held with the presentation of awards to last year's outstanding students. Classes start on Friday the 7th. |
| 8. |
Doctor of Philosophy and Literature Miguel González Garcés (above) will give a public lecture at 8:00 PM. The title of the colloquium is "Musings about the poetry of our time." Bazan wins a third basketball trophy in Lugo. Large crowd. |
| 9. | Police arrest a 37-year-old man charged with murdering his 41-year-old wife in Montevideo (Uruguay). He had returned to Spain aboard the Highland Chieftain. |
| 15. |
Arrival of an Egyptian military mission this morning. Encomium of the movie Carosello Napoletano |
| 6. | Lightning struck a house about 4:30 AM, entered through a broken window, fried the electrical wiring and destroyed the washroom. The family of five living inside was unhurt. |
| 11. | Artillery captain, ballistics expert, chemist, composer and poet Manuel Pérez de Arévalo (above left) will give a recital at 8:00 PM in Teatro Jofre. The proceedings will go to the processional brotherhoods of Holy Week. Note: De Arévalo also taught Mathematics. I did not get to study under him but he enrolled me in the choir of the high school a few months before my departure; he was an enthusiastic, self-confident man, knowledgeable and with a benevolent streak uncommon in the military (End of Note). |
| 15. |
"Extraordinary event": Polish violinist Ida Haendel (above right) will perform tonight at Teatro Jofre. She had turned down all previous offers to come to Ferrol. She will be accompanied at the piano by Carmen Díez Martín. Town Hall renames its square "Plaza del Almirante Francisco Moreno marqués de Alborán." Note: The new name did not stick (End of Note). |
| 20. | Nineteenth anniversary of the death of José Antonio Primo de Rivera the founder of fascist Falange Española. A funeral Mass was held in San Julián Church yesterday Saturday with the following dignitaries in attendance: the captain general of the maritime department, the military governor-general of the city, the mayor, the rear admiral of the fleet, the rear admiral of the naval base, commanders and officers of the army and navy, members of Falange and "a very numerous public." There followed the Mass a wreath-laying ceremony at the foot of the Cross of the Fallen affixed to an exterior wall of the church. Top officials laid laurel wreaths on behalf of Navy Command Headquarters, the military government of the city, Town Hall, Falange and affiliate organizations, the First Division of the Fleet, the munitions workshop and depot and on behalf of Empresa Nacional Bazán. A regular infantry band played the traditional German Army lament, Ich Hatt' Einen Kameraden. This was followed by a recital of the Oración Por los Caídos (Prayer For the Fallen) and the singing of the Falangist anthem, Cara Al Sol (With the Sun On My Face). In the evening San Julián Church hosted a Rosary prayer service on behalf of Primo de Rivera. |
| 21. |
Street procession of the "Little Princess" religious icon from the chapel of Daughters of Mary School. Note: Mom studied at this school (End of Note). The video shows the "Little Princess" on min. 12:28-32 and what a procession looked like on min. 12:28-13:20. "The procession went along the main streets, hundreds of women took part." The highly praised art exhibit of Carlos Villaamil Pérez continues on the second floor of Town Hall from 7:30 to 10:00 PM. |
| 28. |
Literary chat entitled "The Imaginary Countries" by Álvaro Cunqueiro in the casino at 8:00 PM. The act was presided by the military governor and by the chief of staff of the maritime department. "A numerous and select audience filled the lounge." At the conclusion of his delivery the speaker received "enthusiastic" applause. An editorial five days later described the event thus,
Álvaro Cunqueiro, poet, writer, newspaperman, wanderer fond of all the byways of History, Galician even in the manner of looking, rich in imagination and in humanity, has known how to inject into the mind of all his listeners the inimitable magic of a hundred ravishing lies, skipping from the golden lands of the France of the Popes of Avignon to the misty ones of Ireland and Normandy; from the fabled shores of America in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries to the serene age of ancient heroes who live out in the Odyssey and in the tales of the Orient an endless, existential dream. |
| 3. | Eight local basketball teams square off in the gymnasium today at 6:00 and 7:00 PM and tomorrow Sunday at 11:00 AM and 12:00 noon. |
| 8. |
Artist Carlos Villaamil Pérez sold 20 paintings during his recent exhibit (November 21). Official prices for bread set by the Comisaría de Abastecimientos y Transportes (Commissariat of Provisions and Transportation) are: 1 kg loaf, 5.20 Pesetas ♣ ½ kg loaf, 2.75 Pesetas (cf. April 25, 1954). Note: The 100 gram loaf was not listed (End of Note). |
| 11. | 49-year-old female beggar suffered a heart attack at the Central Market. |
| 17. |
Oil tanker "Puertollano" has successfully completed its sea trials. Charity soccer match pits "Lawyers and Newspapermen" versus Navy Sailors. Proceedings went to soup kitchens. Gross: 7,608 Pesetas (cf. December 19, 1954). |
| 18. | Following tradition the chorale Toxos E Froles gave performances in the Destitute Seniors Home, the Hospital of Charity, the municipal school for orphans and the Anti-Tuberculosis Sanatorium. |
| 20. | The nativity scene of the Venerable Orden Tercera de San Francisco opens to the public. Rills of real water, light display, "many figurines of extraordinary perfection." Free admission. Visiting hours are 5:00-7:00 and 8:00-9:00 PM (cf. December 22, 1954). Note: Alfredo Martín Lorenzo (1929-2018) created the first nativity scene of the Venerable Orden Tercera de San Francisco in the year 1945 (End of Note). |
| 23. |
Special Christmas Eve dinners will be served in the Soup Kitchen Restaurant and at the orphans school. Local officials will host them. Charity Music Festival organized by the shipyard enjoyed "extraordinary success." All the participants received a lengthy ovation. Proceeds will go to needy workers. |
| 28. |
Special three-course meals were served to patients in the Hospital of Charity and to patrons of the Night Shelter over the weekend.
|
| 29. | Rival shipyard Astano launched the coaster "Lalasia" of 2,200 tons this afternoon. Launch seventy-eight will take place tomorrow. |
| 31. | Visiting hours to the nativity scene of the Venerable Orden Tercera de San Francisco are extended by popular demand "so that no Ferrolian child will be left without taking his letter to the Three Wise Men." |
| Ferrol's New England Theater (1906-1914) |
