INSTRUCTION INSTRUCTION THELAST When speaking of the shipyards of Biscay, protagonists of the glorious industrial past of the borough of Bilbao, all its inhabitants have in mind the estuary of Bilbao, once studded with breathtaking vessels. Juan José Alonso, the last Director of Celaya Shipyards, tells us with derision his life story when recalling with pride the wealth that was born on its waters experienced a great industrial development. Bilbao mercantile tradition, poli- frastructure of the estuary. Ramón de la Sota has to his credit, along with tical stability and great business opportunities, created thanks to the export of his cousin Eduardo Aznar and his son Luis María Aznar, the creation and iron ore, laid the foundations for a fruitful business period that transformed consolidation of the Group Sota and Aznar that gave birth to the emble- the city and its estuary. It was a reference model of industrial development that matic shipping company, Sota and Aznar. The founders of the Euskalduna also drove the Spanish industrialization, explains Eugenio Torres Villanueva, Shipyard - Ramón de la Sota and Eduardo Aznar - tried to involve all ship Professor of Applied Economics at the Complutense University of Madrid. owners from Bilbao in their project because their aim was to meet all de- Before falling into decline, the riverbed, half salty, half freshwater, this strongly mands for repair and shipbuilding within Biscay, adds Eugenio Torres Vi- contaminated estuary lived times of glory. Thirty-five years later, the landscape has undergone a strong transformation. Thanks to the decisive commitment to a radical change, the city has now become a pristine European capital of cultu- Juan José Alonso in Real Club Marítimo. re. A city created for people that maintains its industrial footprint. SIR RAMÓN DE LA SOTA he ships were born in the city centre, a few meters labourers stopped working to give her all kinds of flowers. “The lifting power of The name of Sir Ramón de la Sota y Llano (1857-1936) stands out when from the area where today stands the imposing Gu- this crane was the same as the beautiful lady had over the workers, that is why it speaking about the rich history of the city. He was one of the most influen- ggenheim Museum, near the Conference Centre and was named after her”, explains Juan José Alonso, the last director of the Celaya tial businessmen of his time who amassed a great fortune and received full Concert Hall, Euskalduna, which owes its name to Shipyard. The noble borough of Bilbao does not want to forget its industrial recognition of the King of England for leasing part of his fleet to the British the main shipyard of the borough. The Ria de Bil- and grey history as it admires the contemporaneousness of the current scenery Admiralty during the First World War. In 1900, Ramón de la Sota y Llano bao Maritime Museum, embellished with the Carola and as it aspires to a promising future ahead. Overcoming the great crisis of was behind the founding of the Euskalduna Ship Construction and Repair crane, built in the 50’s and recognized, at its time, as the 80’s and the regeneration of its estuary, after the flooding that ravaged the Company and behind the founding of the Bank of Commerce, origin of the most powerful lifting machine manufactured in city, it has made its inhabitants, attached to their land and to their uniqueness, the Bank of Bilbao, today known as BBVA. Moreover, he launched the Spain, recalls the rich history of Bilbao. Carola was a beautiful young lady who very proud. During six decades, between 1876 (end of the last Carlist War) Shipowners’ Association and became the president of the Bilbao Public Port tcrossed the estuary every day to go to work; she was so beautiful that all the and 1936 (start of the Civil War), the estuary of Bilbao and Biscay, in general, Authority that was responsible for the considerable improvement of the in- Text by ITXASO ELORDUY • Photo by JuaN josÉ aloNso Y Museo MarÍtiMO RÍA de BilBao 56 • SPEND IN www.spend-in.com www.spend-in.com SPEND IN• 57 INSTRUCTION INSTRUCTION In 1900, Thanks to the decisive Ramón de la commitment to a radical change, Sota y Llano the city has now become a pristine was behind the European capital of culture founding of the Euskalduna Ship Standing next to the estuary that vertebrates the city of Bilbao, Juan José Construction and Alonso, the last Director of Celaya Shipyards, tells us with derision his life Repair Company story when recalling with pride the wealth that was born on its waters. “Boats and behind infected the life and the tiny world that surrounded the estuary. Shipyards, the founding workshops, mines, boaters, bridges and people living on its banks made the estuary a main street that even celebrated the victories of their beloved Athle- of the Bank tic. And despite the fact that some gave it the nickname “navigable gutter”, of Commerce, painters and poets were excited about this place”. origin of the Before getting the job in the management of Celaya, Juan José Alonso wor- Bank of Bilbao ked in the iconic company Euskalduna, whose name lives in the memory of all the people from Bilbao. “I came to Euskalduna to work in its dry docks. They were, along with the quays, always full of ships; many of them were steamers with high cylindrical chimneys, a central bridge, simple and straight llanueva. He was also an outstanding patron of the arts. “The friends of the JUANJO ALONSO, A LOVER OF THE ESTUARY bow and with an arched stern. At the beginning, without having a car, living famous painter Aurelio Arteta decided to visit the respected businessman in “If you want to talk about memories I will speak inevitably of those I have and I in Las Arenas, I crossed the right bank four times a day with my nose glued his home to ask for his help. They feared him because he was a very powerful will refer mainly to the estuary I knew in 1956 since it had such a splendid life”. Juan José Alonso saliendo a pruebas de mar del buque escuela “Corwith Cramer”, última to the window of a red trolleybus, contemplating this estuary filled with fire man, with a strong personality. “When asked for help, Sir Ramón de la Sota, Such was the first telephone conversation with an octogenarian sir of extreme creación de Astilleros Celaya, en 1988. from blast furnaces creating a red sky accompanying every night. Barakaldo as he wished to be called, signed a piece a paper which was, as it was later mental acuity and fine irony, who asked me to be on first name terms, - because ovens illuminate the whole Bilbao, as says the song. For eighteen years I felt verified, a blank check that would save the renowned Basque painter from pretty girls always do so -, and who revealed the first surprise of the day. -I knew very happy in those docks, between gigantic alternative vapour machines, bankruptcy”, reveals the General Director of the Ria de Bilbao Maritime your father very well - he told me all of a sudden, - he was a resolute man, like Between 1876 and 1936 the hulls to be repaired, so many endless “operations”; surrounded by the un- Museum, Jon Ruigómez. One of his descendants, Patrick de la Sota y Mac no one I knew before-. Pedro Elorduy, just as Juanjo, knew every rat of the estuary of Bilbao and Biscay, forgettable sound of riveters which sang a morning lullaby to all those rich Mahon, was President of the Chamber of Commerce, Consul of Bilbao and estuary which, during that glorious manufacturing era, abounded its shores. in general, experienced a great people living in the Gran Via Street. What an amazing mixture of adventure president of the Bilbao Maritime Museum Foundation. They were fine men from the port, living in Bilbao all their life. industrial development I got to live!” Sir Ramón de la Sota by Ramón Casas. 1944. 58 • SPEND IN www.spend-in.com www.spend-in.com SPEND IN• 59.