Homage to Donan Pher, the “Emperor” of the ball-point

13/07/2011. Kukuxumusu remembers the mythical street-seller during the first Sanfermin since his recent death

Kukuxumusu has wished to keep a special memory for Fernando Vázquez López "Donan Pher", the street-seller who came to Sanfermin each year with his humble offer of pens, ballpoints and pencils over a period of nearly 50 years. He died last August at the age of 86.

During these present Sanfermin fiestas, Kukuxumusu has welcomed a good representative part of his family, including his widow, Lola García-Lomas, his daughter Loli Velázquez García-Lomas, and his son-in-law Agustín Jaimez Cordón as well as his grandchildren, Raúl and Sara Jaimez Velázquez. All of them were able to watch the morning running of the bulls from the balcony of Pamplona City Hall. Afterwards, they strolled across to the Paseo de Sarasate, where their departed relative used to always keep his small street stand.

50 years in Sanfermin
They silently remembered the mythical Donan Pher who used always come to Sanfermin every year from1942 up to 1991, a period of almost 50 years, selling his popular ballpoint pens. Some of the staff from Kukuxumusu explained to the family that they first included him in a drawing made in 1996 which held some of the most important characters from the fiestas. They explained how the idea came to them to dedicate a special tee shirt for Sanfermin 2011 in his memory with his name and where he would appear in his unmistakable explorer suit from the XIX century.

"We are heartily surprised by the homage," stated his daughter Loli. "We knew my father was always a popular character among the people here, but we have come without knowing what to expect. It has been a wonderful surprise for us because my mother and me would always come to work in the old days, to help him and this is the first time we have come just for pleasure. We are very happy and grateful for all the kindness shown to us", explained Loli from the same spot in the Paseo de Sarasate.

"Adventurer and an intellectual"
The reasons for the homage to Donan Pher made by Kukuxumusu were explained by Mikel Urmeneta, founder-member and creative director at Kukuxumusu: "He was the one and only street seller who sold something that was genuinely useful. He was an adventurer and an intellectual who dearly loved Pamplona and Sanfermin and whom the local authorities sent into exile - like so many others - when they moved him to the Taconera park area to set up his stand when his true spot should always have been right here in the Paseo Sarasate".

His daughter recalls that moment when her father, already in his final years of working in Pamplona, had to move from his habitual and customary spot in the center of the city. "He had to accept the move with resignation, what else could he do, but it had an adverse effect on his sales. Nevertheless, he continued to come to the fiestas because he genuinely adored Pamplona and Sanfermin".

Proud of his relationship with Pamplona
To sum up his character, Loli Velázquez pointed out the love that her father had for the people and city of Pamplona. "He had a keen sense of his responsibilities and he enjoyed coming here because the people appreciated him and waited for his coming each year. He was proud of his relationship with the people from Pamplona. The city was never far from his thoughts".

Throughout the day, the relatives and family of Donan Pher were brought to several events in Pamplona by some of the Kukuxumusu staff and they were taken to the bullfights by Mikel Urmeneta. A special gift has been prepared for them to take home: the unique "Donan Pher" tee shirt, signed by all the Kukuxumusu staff.