As a hot September day gives way to a breezy night, people in the town of Las Ventas con Peña Aguilera are seen strolling around the streets. The breezes are called "La mareita" here and people appreciate then as the las sweltering days of summer disappear.
I sat down on a typical stone bench in the town to savour the breeze an listen to the calm, clear words of Gregorio Medina Sanchez, Goro, as he told me something of his life. Goro was born in Las Ventas con Peña Aguilera on March 12, 1933. When he was a child he lived on a farm. "La Salceda" whose owner was the famous bullfighter "Marcial Lalanda". Goro´s fathers worked as an atterdand there.
Goro began to work as a carperter when he was eleven years old. He enjoyed the job and had ability but work was scarce so he began to study taxidermy sith Marcial´s sons. Step by step he began to work creating trophies of deer and wild boar until finally he decided to dedicate himself to taxidermy and he created his own firm, Medina Tasidermy. When Goro´s sons finished their studies, they began to work in the family business.
A sister too, Maria del Mar, travelled to Italy in 1980 to learn new methods an be trained in the use of polyurethane. Medina Taxidermy was one of the first companies in Spain to work with this material. Later, his son, Ramon, went to the U.S.A. to further his studies in taxidermy and to observe North American working methods.
The business was now growing and eleven staff were taken on to help deal with the orders from clients around the world.
Gregorio Medina Sanchez has received many prizes for"work well done", first in 1996 by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Toledo and finally, last year he received a tribute from his colleagues in the "National Association os Taxidermist" for lifetime achievement and his excellent work.
Suddenly I feel a little cold as a strong, biting wind has picked up and I finish the interview and head for home. From the mountains I hear the deer call and I think of Goro.
I won´t forget this interview or this good person.
CyS