Lúcar pays tribute to ‘Pepa la de las Lanas’: the village’s Gold Shield and her name on the seniors’ hall
Josefa Martínez Galera, ‘Pepa la de las Lanas’, receives Lúcar’s Gold Shield and gives her name to the senior citizens’ hall at the start of the cultural summer.
Automatic translation: this article was translated with artificial intelligence from the original in Spanish. Read the original
Several generations of people in Lúcar know her as ‘Pepa la de las Lanas’ (roughly, ‘Pepa the Wool Lady’), and from now on she also holds the municipality’s Gold Shield (Escudo de Oro). Lúcar Town Council has presented it to Josefa Martínez Galera, one of its best-loved residents, at a night-time ceremony held in the Salón Cultural Marín de Poveda, which kicked off the village’s summer cultural programme, as reported by La Comarca.
The honour was approved unanimously at a full council meeting. With it, the council recognises a life devoted to work, family and the village, marked by generosity and commitment to Lúcar. It was the mayor who presented it, on behalf of the town council, in front of many residents, relatives and friends.
And with good reason. During the tribute, her tenacious, warm and generous nature was highlighted, as were her constant willingness to lend others a hand and her active involvement in the life of the municipality, a life story that, according to La Comarca, has left its mark on many generations of residents.
Memories and experiences
One of the most moving moments came with the words of the president of the Lúcar Senior Citizens’ Association, José Cuéllar, and of a granddaughter of the woman being honoured. Both shared personal memories and experiences and showed the different sides of the woman behind the nickname. The ceremony also stressed that Pepa symbolises many women whose quiet effort has helped to build the Lúcar of today and to keep its traditions alive.
Her hands, in the senior citizens’ hall
And the tribute included further gestures. Pepa also received a commemorative plaque, illustrated with an image of her hands knitting, with which Lúcar’s senior citizens’ hall (Salón de Mayores) now bears her name. Her name is thus permanently linked to one of the places where the village’s older people meet, while Lúcar carries on with the rest of its cultural summer activities.
From elValle Actualidad, we can only join in the tribute: Congratulations, Pepa! Stories like hers are what knit together, stitch by stitch, the identity of our villages.
