May 2026 Newsletter
- Anthony McAlister
- May 12
- 4 min read
Dear Members,
Well, what an exciting April fair in Sevilla, it’s always the way when I choose not to go! However, great to see so many members at 3 Puyazos last weekend and well done Helen Windrath for organising such a great lunch. I understand that Mark hosted a most convivial Sevilla lunch in the Donald restaurant as well.
NEW MEMBERS
Please join me in welcoming the following new members, you are bound to see them on the WhatsApp group soon.
Ricardo and Daniela Q.
– A young couple from Mexico City living and working in London, confirmed Morantistas with a lovely engagement story that we intend to feature in La Divisa. Daniela says “bullfighting has been part of my life from a very young age, as my parents used to take us every Sunday to the Monumental Plaza de Toros Mexico, the largest bullring in the world. I even used to play with my younger brother to be a matador and his apoderada. My passion comes from my great-grandparents on my mother’s side. Until the Plaza de Toros Mexico closed in 2022, we still had the same seats my great-grandparents purchased when the plaza opened in 1946. Ricardo said one of his favourite bullfighting quotes is by Curro Romero, as it combines two of his greatest passions: tennis and bullfighting. When asked which supporters he preferred, those from Seville or Madrid, he replied that he “preferred tennis supporters, as they are always silent during the game”.
Oscar Alejandro M. Z. - a Colombian national that came to London 23 years ago. A GP by training who works in the pharmaceutical industry. He has been an aficionado of the fiesta brava since childhood. Growing up watching corridas with enormous admiration for the great figures of the art, and his four favourite matadors have always been César Rincón, Morante de la Puebla, Enrique Ponce and José Miguel Arroyo "Joselito". Whenever time and money allow, he travel to attend corridas across Spain and Colombia, from Madrid and Sevilla to Cali and Manizales. The fiesta has been a constant thread throughout his life, and joining the CTL feels like a natural extension of that passion.
Oscar D. - originally from Seville, he says “I have always felt deeply connected to my roots and traditions. Twelve years ago, I moved to the United Kingdom and began a new chapter in my life where I learned to balance my Andalusian heritage with an international lifestyle. Despite living abroad, my bond with Spain —and especially with Andalusia— has never faded. I have a strong passion for the world of bull breeding, the countryside, and horseback riding. This is not just a hobby for me, but a fundamental part of who I am. I come from a family with a long tradition in this field, as my grandparents once owned bull-breeding estates, and I feel a deep responsibility to honour and recover that legacy. I currently own horses in Spain and I am in the process of building a solid collera with the goal of competing in acoso y derribo, a discipline that truly represents my connection to the campo bravo and traditional horsemanship. My short-term goal is to create my own estate for breeding young bulls, establish my own hierro, and bring my family’s heritage back to life.”
MAY ONLINE MEETING
Members are reminded that our next online gathering takes place on 14th May at 7.30pm BST.
In a change from tradition, there will be no external guest speaker. Instead, this session will feature an open forum where all members are invited to contribute. The focus will be on discussing the most recent developments and notable moments from the calendario taurino in Spain: Feria de Sevilla, Feria del Aficionado de San Agustín de Guadalix, the start of San Isidro etc. Whether you’ve followed every Feria closely, either in person or by TV, or simply wish to listen and learn, your participation is encouraged. Join us for what promises to be a lively, informed, and engaging exchange of perspectives.
Meeting details:-
Thursday 14th May, 7.30pm BST on Zoom
Meeting ID: 815 6488 9686
Meeting passcode: 477494
UPCOMING GET-TOGETHERS
Las Ventas 14th May
Mark Rayner will be at the bar in The Patio de Arrastre for a post-corrida drink and would be pleased to meet any members who are also there.
San Isidro lunch
Our usual lunch in the excellent Hotel Wellington will be held on Friday 29th May. If you intend going and have not yet registered please do so with Mark Rayner at markctol@gmail.com and copy me in. We hope to announce our very special guest of honour soon.
AGM notice
We intend to hold our Annual General Meeting on the evening of Monday 15th June in London. Those members wishing to attend are requested to register with me, when we have an idea of numbers we will arrange a suitable venue. If you have not yet registered your attendance with me, please do so ASAP.
MEMORABILIA
A former member, Michael Wells, has asked if anyone is interested in his collection. He says ‘I'm afraid I haven't got an inventory of my collection but there are about 90 to 100 books, most in English (including a fine 1st UK edition of ‘Death in the Afternoon’ in dust jacket) and some in Spanish. The larger items are 6 leather bound Cossios, 2 volumes of Tauromaquia de Manolete, Goya's La Tauromaquia and Picasso's Toros Y Toreros. I have a few framed cartelitos, 5 pairs of banderillas, 3 De Lujo, 1 Negras and 1 placed por dentro by L.F.Espla (with a picture of him doing it). There is also a framed set of antique postcards illustrating la lidia and 2 antique magazines.”
This collection is in Brighton and would require collecting from any interested member, please let me know.
Best wishes,
Anthony
Anthony McAlister
Secretary General
Club Taurino of London
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