| William L. (Nick) Palmer Photos of the Robert Ruark and Alan Ritchie Graves in Palomas, Spain, located outside Barcelona |
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| The inscription on Robert Ruark's grave in Palamos, Spain-Photo by William L. (Nick) Palmer |
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William L. (Nick) Palmer of Valdese, NC is a member of the Robert Ruark Society and has often visited the Ruark grave site in Palamos, Spain. So, we asked Nick (who attended the 2011 presentation of the Robert Ruark Award at UNC-CH) to provide us some photos from his visits. Below are a series of his photos in slide presentations that may also be saved on your computer and printed. To initiate each slide presentation just click on the large center arrow pointing to the right.
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Robert Ruark was not Catholic; so he was buried in the city cemetery known as the "Cementiri Municipal de Palamos," and Nick Palmer tells us it is a well maintained facility. As of Nick's last visit, only Ruark and his secretary, Alan M. Ritchie, are buried out in the opening, rather than in the stacks( shown in one photo). In another photo you can see where Nick was cleaning the plate on the grave covering. Be sure to scroll down to the Alan Ritchie grave site photos and then on to the maps.
Nick has also advised us that Ruark's home was taken down a few years ago. We were sorry to learn that.
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In this slide presentation of Nick's photos we see the location and grave of Alan M. Ritchie, who served as Robert Ruark's secretary and who authored RUARK REMEMBERED-by the man who knew him best. Ritchie's manuscript was over 800 pages but it was edited down to less than 300 pages by Jim Casada.
Ritchie was an Englishman and served in the British Army. After his military service, Ritchie was working as a cork manufacturer when hired by Ruark as his secretary. Ritchie wrote that his time with Ruark was "twelve years of fascination association with a most wonderful employer and friend." He outlived Ruark by 17 years but was fittingly buried near Ruark in Palamos, Spain.
Nick has also indicated that while the cross on Alan's grave is broken all of the parts are there.
Then we have three photos Nick took of the harbor seen as one leaves the Cemetery. Most fitting since Ruark served in the Navy. Also, be sure to view the maps below.
The cemetery in Palamos is about one and a half hours from Barcelona.
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Below in the final slide presentation on this page, you will find several maps of Spain that identify the location of Barcelona and Palamos. Nick has also provided photos of the Hotel Ancora that serves the harbor and cemetery area of Palamos. Additionally, after Nick speaks at the Robert Ruark Birthday Party in Southport, NC on December 29th, we will be adding another page of photos on this site.
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The Robert Ruark Society wishes to thank William L. (Nick) Palmer for providing the photos found on this special page. Nick last visited the grave sites for Ruark and Ritchie in 2009. He also plans to attend the presentation of the 2012 Robert Ruark Award, at UNC-Chapel Hill in the spring. Some Society Members may want to meet him at that time.
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