Arbúcies Air Crash Mayor Honoured
The Mayor of Arbúcies, the village in Catalonia where a British De Havilland Comet crashed in 1970 has been honoured by King Charles for his work to maintain the “memory of its victims”.
Pere Garriga, the Mayor of the Catalan town of Arbúcies, has been recognised for services to the memory of British nationals in Spain following his efforts to commemorate those who died in the 1970 Arbúcies plan crash.
On July 3rd, 1970, the aircraft, operated by Dan Air traveling from Manchester to Barcelona crashed into the densely forested mountains of The Montseny, near the small village of Arbúcies. This disaster resulted in the single largest loss of British lives on the Iberian Peninsula, with 112 British nationals perishing in the crash.
Mr Garriga, who remembers the accident as a child in Arbúcies, has ensured that the final resting place in the cemetery of Arbúcies, known as el cementiri dels anglesos, the Cemetery of the English, was restored and is maintained with care. Each year the Mr Garriga organises a memorial service on the 3rd of July, ensuring that the tragic accident is remembered with dignity.
Ambassador Alex Ellis said: “Pere has shown remarkable dedication in commemorating the British nationals who tragically lost their lives in the 1970 plane crash near Arbúcies. I am pleased that his efforts to ensure the victims are remembered with dignity and respect are being honored with a British Empire Medal.”
Pere Garriga said: “Everything I’ve done over the years has been aimed at improving the quality of life of our citizens and, in the case of the 1970 plane crash, keeping the memory of the victims alive and strengthening ties with their families. It’s a commitment that remains more alive than ever and invites us to continue working with the same spirit of respect, memory, and humanity.”
Also awarded a BEM was Pedro Molina the long-time embassy driver who has worked at the Madrid Embassy since 1993 and served six ambassadors.
