The Círculo Ecuestre de Barcelona celebrated the member’s party on Saturday night, on the occasion of the 167th anniversary of the private club. During the gala dinner, Javier Godó, Count of Godó and president-editor of La Vanguardia, was awarded the first gold medal awarded by the entity in its entire history “for the permanent commitment of La Vanguardia and the Godó family to the city.” from Barcelona”.
It was on November 26, 1856, when members of the Catalan bourgeoisie who were fond of horse riding founded the Círculo Ecuestre on Sant Pau Street in Barcelona. After several moves, since 1950 the headquarters of the private club has been in a modernist mansion on the corner of Diagonal Avenue and Balmes Street, being a point of intersection of the most influential business, professional and institutional circles in Barcelona and Catalonia.
The 350 guests who attended the member’s party on Saturday arrived punctually at 9 p.m. A photocall and a welcome aperitif awaited them in the hall of the Equestrian Circle. An hour later, the guests went up to the different rooms, spread over two floors, where dinner was served.
The evening was enlivened by the soprano Montserrat Seró, who performed O mio Bambino alone and together with Alejandro Delgado the iconic song Barcelona, ??by Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballé.
After dinner, Enrique Lacalle, president of the Equestrian Circle, presented the Count of Godó with the gold medal. Javier Godó began his speech by thanking him for the honor of being the first person in history to receive such a distinction from the Equestrian Circle. In this sense, he praised the contribution that associations like this have made to Barcelona. “Barcelona’s life is organized through its clubs,” he stated.
The editor of La Vanguardia made those present laugh when he warned that he was very clear that the Círculo Ecuestre (1856) is an even older entity than La Vanguardia (1881).
Enrique Lacalle, for his part, highlighted the great friendship that united him with the Count of Godó “from whom I have learned a lot” and highlighted that both Javier and his family have been committed to Barcelona “during these 142 years to maintain balance from a prudent, focused and courageous newspaper, and with a clear commitment to Barcelona, ??being its window to the world, its reporter of citizen life, and its promoter as a hub of talent for companies and wealth for the city.”
The editor of La Vanguardia was accompanied at this celebration by his wife Marisa Falcó and his children, Carlos (CEO of the Godó Group) and Ana (group advisor).
Along with the gold medal to the Count of Godó, who has been a member for 30 years, the president of the Equestrian Circle gave two members the insignia for having been in the entity for more than 40 years. These are Enrique Salvia, partner since 1982 and Francisco González, partner since 1983.
