In the 60s, when Santa Claus got too busy, Louis Delavalle took over his job. Christmases in Méjanes are a timeless moment made of magic. After diner, the guests usually go together on horseback to celebrate the midnight mass in the Albaron village.
Born in 1932, “year of the Ricard drink’s first bottle,” as he likes to point out, Louis Delavalle is hired at his 17 by Paul Ricard at the Marseille factory. He first starts his journey there as a driver, then as an administrator courier, as my father’s driver, as the Méjanes restaurant general manager, then as general manager of the Bendor Island for a season.
He finally becomes part of the team put together by my uncle Louis Thiers to create the Bulls Clubs in 1955. This other incredible human adventure was started and managed by Louis Thiers with Méjanes as the main scenery.
The story of Paul Ricard Bulls Club belongs to all the enthusiasts of France. It holds moments of strong conviviality, fortunate meetings, passion, and emotions that we shared and that we all keep close to our hearts.
Let us get back to Louis Delavalle. With his associate Marcel Salem, they go on a trip around the south of France to create new Bulls Clubs. Enthusiasts really appreciate the meetings organized, and members are shown movies from our movie library, about bullfights.
Marcel Salem comments on the screened movies. He is an excellent writer and creates the firm’s catalogs along with beautiful books about the Camargue.
Like their colleagues, Palomo, Luis Marotto, René Reynier, the both of them attend the corridas, course camarguaise and landaise, as representatives of the Ricard firm, which is at the time, partner of all the Bulls events.
Louis Delavalle remembers fondly of all the Bulls Club’s cruises. Cruises that would last a week and would take you to all the Ferias in Spain. Meanwhile, friendships grew between the club’s members enjoying some tourism. About 14 000 of them are present. Boats with a capacity of 800 to 1000 passengers are privately rented for the firm by Louis Thiers, who organises the cruises.
During a stopover in Alicante, Louis Delavalle meets a young 17 years old, unknown Spanish bullfighter. The two men quickly bond. For a reason unknown to me, the Spanish man will make the promise to Louis that if he becomes a great torero, he will gift him with a beautiful corrida costume. The man’s name is Manzanares (Jose Maria Dolls Abellan), and as you know, he is going to become really famous. The two men see each other often without mentioning the promise again. Twenty-five years later, during Manzanares despedida at the Arles arenas, the Maestro announces to Louis Delavalle that his costume is ready.
Michel Salvadorini, alias Palomo, started in Méjanes, aged 22, alongside Guitou Lapeyre, at the horse-riding path.
He takes part in the Ricard factory’s inauguration in Dijon and the promotional horse-riding tour happening in the different cities.
He rapidly becomes friends with Philippe Thiers, the son of Louis Thiers. One day, Philippe offers to show him around Marseille on his moped. This is how our Camargue gardian discovers the Phocéenne city thanks to the one that will become like a brother to him. Philippe gives him the nickname Palomo after they go to a corrida in Arles, with Gérald Pellen. That day, it is Michel’s favorite torero that triumphed… Palomo Linares.
One day, Louis Thiers offers him to join the team of the Bulls Club. He happily accepts, and on top of bringing new members in their thirties like him, he will quickly develop new Ricard Bulls Clubs in all the southwest region of France.
It’s the significant era of the Bulls Club in Méjanes. There are dance ball, smaller intimate parties at the bar with Manitas de Plata, Christmas dinners, and New Year’s evening parties at the domain’s restaurant. But also lotteries, Miss elections, general assemblies with thousands of participants winning trophies.
He also remembers the Bulls Club cruises with the beautiful drum majorettes who performed a show in each city center, in front of the amazed passer-by. These stopovers were unbelievable events, during which were organized meetups, official meetings, and private access to corridas for members.
Time flew by. A new chapter started, and it is now time for the French Bulls Club Union to tell its story!