On Sunday, the day of the Municipal Elections here in Spain, Ignacio Ramos completed a 32-year career as councillor, 20 of them as mayor of Pilar de la Horadada.
When Ignacio first took office the municipality had about 9,000 residents – and only nine years had elapsed since its segregation, its independence from the municipality of Orihuela
Now the population exceeds 20,000 people, many thousands of which are expatriates.
During his period a mayor one of his main achievements has been the diversification of the local economy into different sectors. During times of economic prosperity he has supported the construction of tourist housing on the coast, in Mil Palmeras, La Torre del Pilar, the golf course at Lo Romero and Pinar de Campoverde. He has also played a very important part in the reinforcement of the very important greenhouse agricultural production in the area that is dedicated to international markets.
Hence two of the main reasons why the people of Pilar de la Horadada and its municipality enjoy such prosperity.
The mayor has always been a great champion of the expatriate population in the town and in the last 10 years he has been a major benefactor of the Royal British Legion, instrumental in it’s use on Remembrance Sunday of the Capilla de las Mil Palmeras, an event that he has always supported by his attendance.
He was also instrumental in the creation of the Garden of Remembrance in front of the parish church to which he and has council have made regular improvements, completely refurbishing the area in the last 12 months so that it is now it is a place where people can sit quietly and remember their loved one’s in quiet reflection.
The Orihuela Costa and District Branch of The Royal British Legion is deeply indebted to Ignacio Ramos for the support he has provided during his tenure of office, and as a mark of appreciation a small presentation was made by members at their May meeting, of the Pulitzer prize winning book, The Guns of August, written by Barbara W. Tuchman, to thank him for his loyal an valuable patronage over the last ten years.
The photograph shows the mayor and his successor, Pilar Samper, along with Vice Chairman, Eddie Coleman, Membership Secretary, Walter Montfort and Branch member Louise Innes, who is also the Chair of the Mil Palmeras residents Association.
