The trade unionist and anti-Franco activist Nemesi Solà i Franquesa (Barcelona, ??1929) has died at the age of 95. A pastry chef and baker by profession, Solà was a Catalan reference over the years and one of the authors of the kidnapping of the Virgin of Núria in 1967 to prevent her from being crowned by the dictator Franco.
Nemesi Solà was also one of the founders of the 1714 Memorial – for the recovery and dignification of this space in the Fossar de les Moreres -, promoter of the traditional Flama del Canigó and a prominent member of Òmnium Cultural since its foundation. In 2015 he received the Joan Amades award and in 2018 he was awarded the Creu de Sant Jordi in recognition of his contribution to Catalan culture and the national rights of Catalonia.
“Today the patriot Nemesi Solà died, a tireless fighter for the traditions and national rights of Catalonia. He was involved in the Canigó Flame, the 1714 Memorial, etc. May he rest in peace. It was a great honor to be able to present him with the Creu de Sant Jordi in 2018,” said the former president of the Generalitat Quim Torra in a tweet on our first partners, those that are essential,” added the entity led by Xavier Antich.
“Nemesi Solà y Franquesa, the first president in pectore of the 1714 Memorial, has left us. Today the flame of the Moreres moat burns for one more of our people. Rest in peace, comrade, we will continue the fight until, if necessary, new arms will also take over from us,” the civic and cultural association stressed. Nemesi Solà’s farewell ceremony will be held this Monday at 4:00 p.m. in the parish of Sant Pere Pescador (Alt Empordà), a town where he lived since the late 1980s.
