S for Solera, S for San Roque, S for sentiment… What might appear to be just another letter of the alphabet forms, together with others, a word that means so much more to many of us. To say SOLERA is to think of joy, celebration, friendship, treasured memories, camaraderie, love, happiness and carefree enjoyment…
Solera is one of the nine crews—ten if we include the children's crew Desbarajuste—that make up the Calatayud Inter-Crew Federation, the organisation responsible for the San Roque Festivities, watched over from above by the hermitage of Saint Roch overlooking the very noble, loyal, ever august and most faithful City of Calatayud.
At the end of 1969, while the Americans were busy with such insignificant matters as landing on the Moon, an event was about to take place in Calatayud that would truly change the lives of many people forever. A group of young people from Calatayud, many of whom already belonged to crews such as Euqor or Unión, were gathered, as they often did, in the Xalón bar when they came up with the inspired idea of creating a new crew to add even greater splendour to the already popular San Roque Festivities.
Thus, Solera—named after the traditional ageing process used for fine wines—first took to the streets during the 1970 San Roque Festivities with 75 enthusiastic members who, dressed in a striking pink uniform that was considered very daring at the time, added even more colour to the streets of Calatayud.
Following the custom of the other crews, during its first two years Solera hired well-known performers such as the Río Club Orchestra and the trio Los Payos—famous for their hit "María Isabel". Unfortunately, the financial outcome was disastrous, forcing the crew to seek help from stronger and more established crews such as Euqor, Rouna and Unión in order to pay off the debt that had been incurred.
Thanks to that support, Solera recovered and, although for many years it stopped bringing in live performances—mainly because it had learned from the difficult experience of its early years and preferred to keep its spending in line with its real financial possibilities—it continued to play an active role in the San Roque Festivities. Signature events such as the Paseo dinner, the fancy-dress celebrations, the legendary donkey-drawn cart and the meringue battle against Unión Crew became part of its identity, while always maintaining friendship, fun and camaraderie with the other crews, gradually establishing itself as one of the cornerstones of the San Roque Festivities.
In time, the situation improved and the crew once again began organising live musical performances, some featuring well-known acts such as Starkytch DJs, Green Apples, the Magia Negra Orchestra, Noche Sabinera—led by the incomparable Pancho Varona and Antonio García de Diego—and artists such as Lucas Masciano and La Musicalité, who at the time were topping the Los 40 Principales radio charts.
It is also worth mentioning a few distinctive facts, many of which have become part of the crew's folklore. The first is that, in 1972, an emblem was created that many members still proudly wear sewn onto their shirts today.
During those early years, the crew also composed its own anthem (see the corresponding section), which was sung and danced to the accompaniment of the brass band.
In 1980, Solera Infantil was founded, providing a new generation of young Solera members who would later join the main crew. The badge designed that year for the children became legendary, bearing the slogan "I'm a Little Solera Member… what about you?" (see the "Badges" section).
It is also worth mentioning that, for several years, Solera was twinned with El Sol Crew from Calahorra, with both groups organising joint activities during the festivities and throughout the rest of the year, visiting one another on a regular basis.
Pride in belonging to Solera—that is what every one of us who has been part of this crew feels. We may not be one of the largest in numbers, but we certainly are in spirit. One of our greatest strengths is that, more or less, we all know one another, allowing us to preserve the same welcoming atmosphere and sense of togetherness with which the crew was founded.
Although membership has grown dramatically from those original 75 brave founders to the record 352 members reached during the 2011 San Roque Festivities, our usual membership ranges between 250 and 300 people. At the last San Roque for which figures are available—2012—we numbered 252 Solera members, a figure we hope will continue to grow as new generations join the crew. They are our future.
We could mention many people who have played an important role within the crew, but without singling out individuals, it is only fair to express our sincere gratitude to the women of Solera for their tireless, selfless and invaluable work throughout the crew's history. Whether making costumes, helping with meals or assisting with the countless tasks involved in keeping an organisation like this running, their contribution has been extraordinary. For all of this, THANK YOU, LADIES.
The location of the crew headquarters has changed over the years as the urban layout of the city has evolved.
During its early years, the crew changed headquarters almost as often as people change shirts. In its founding year it was located in López Landa Street; in 1971 it moved to Justo Navarro Street; in 1972 it returned to López Landa; in 1973 it settled on the Paseo, then known as Paseo de las Fuerzas Armadas; in 1974 it moved to Madre Puy Street; and in 1975 it returned once again to Justo Navarro Street... What a whirlwind of moves! In 1976, the crew established its headquarters on Avenida de San Juan el Real…
After all that moving about, the crew was finally able to remain at the same headquarters during 1977 and 1978 in San Antón Street, before settling from 1979 to 1986 in the legendary premises on Luis Guedea Street.
From 1987 to 1991 the headquarters moved to Postigo de Tenerías Street. After that came another unsettled period, as between 1992 and 1998 the crew alternated between premises on Dr Fleming Street, right next to Cortinajes Comín, and the end of Paseo Cortes de Aragón—also known as Paseo San Nicolás de Francia—where Unión Crew traditionally sets up its headquarters. Thus, in 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996 and 1998 the crew was located on Dr Fleming Street, while in 1994 and 1997 it returned to the Paseo.
Stability finally arrived in 1999, when Solera was granted permission to establish its headquarters in the centrally located Plaza del Fuerte, where it has remained ever since.
As for the people who have had the honour of serving as presidents of the crew (see the Solera Museum – Our Presidents section), the first was José Luis Comín, a highly influential figure in our festivities who later also became president of the Inter-Crew Federation and of the Board of Trustees of the Calatayud Municipal Charitable Bullring Foundation. His term of office covered Solera's first two years, 1970 and 1971.
He was succeeded by the ever-present Mariano Guillén, who carried the responsibility of leading the crew for no fewer than eighteen years, from 1972 to 1989.
From 1990 to 1994 the presidency was held by Alberto Lorenzo, who made the important decision to officially register the crew as the Asociación Cultural y Recreativa Peña Solera San Roquera de Calatayud, which remains its legal name today.
Jesús Gil served as president in 1995, and the following year Ana Comín took over, becoming the first woman to lead Solera, a position she held until 1999.
She was followed by Fernando Caro, who served during 2000 and 2003, before handing over to Ricardo Pablo, who was president from 2004 to 2008. Both played a significant role in rejuvenating the crew by attracting many new members.
Arturo Yagüe—the son of one of the crew's historic figures, the legendary Paneta—served as president from 2009 to 2012 and oversaw the record membership achieved in 2011.
Since February 2013, the presidency has been held by Raúl López.
As for the Peñistas del Año that Solera has proudly counted among its members (see the Solera Museum – Our Peñistas del Año section), there have been three to date.
The first Solera member to receive the honour of being named Peñista del Año was the much-admired Manolo Ginés in 1988. A distinguished figure within the crew, he was also responsible for introducing the tradition whereby the award recipient wears the colours of every crew in Calatayud on a single shirt, an idea originally proposed by José Gil Rupérez. It was a thoroughly deserved recognition for one of the great pillars of the San Roque Festivities.
In 1990 the distinction was awarded to Mariano Guillén, another of Solera's founders. His many years of dedication to both the crew and the festivities were recognised with the award. Famous became his phrase "I deserve it", which, in true Michel-at-the-Italia-'90-World-Cup style, he jokingly dedicated to himself in the greeting he wrote for that year's official festival programme. Whether or not he said it himself, the award was entirely deserved by someone who remains one of the defining figures of the San Roque Festivities in Calatayud.
The most recent—and so far the last—Solera member to receive this honour was Antonio Sada. He was named Peñista del Año in 2011 in recognition of his work as head of the Inter-Crew Federation Management Committee and for his long-standing commitment to the festivities after serving on several of the crew's governing boards. It is also worth recalling the generous gesture Antonio made towards the 2010 Peñista del Año, Isabelino Agudo Gómez. As many will remember, the 2010 Chupinazo could not be launched from the balcony of the former Town Hall in Plaza de España, as tradition dictated, and was instead moved to Avenida de San Juan el Real. Isabelino had to light the ceremonial rocket from a specially erected platform, which somewhat diminished the occasion. To make up for that, Antonio invited him to join him on the Town Hall balcony the following year and share the spotlight, a gesture that perfectly reflects what it means to be both a true San Roque enthusiast and an even better person.
Finally, we cannot close these lines without remembering all those Solera members, supporters and friends who have left us over the years. It is only right to honour their memory and, although it would not be appropriate to become sentimental or attempt to name individuals—since we would surely leave someone out—we simply wish to say that they will remain in our hearts forever.
