Mercedes Ribera Casamada was the wife of Pelayo Pagés Vilar. Her extraordinary life and influence on my life and those of many others deserve a special place in this collection about the history of the Lord and Pagés families.

She was born on 19 August 1928 to a wealthy and influential family in Palamós. Being very little, she suffered an irreplaceable loss, and despite everything, she managed to recover over time. Mercedes stood out academically and later managed to achieve great success in her social and professional lives, going far beyond where most women of her time would have imagined. The broad subjects covered in her writings and oral memoirs in this part are a testament to the richness of her life.

For us, who are beneficiaries of her love and wisdom, the eloquence in her writings and oral reminiscences shows us a life well lived and one full of care for people. Few have had to face what she went through when, at the age of eight, her father was killed at the start of the Civil War and, later, when her passion for studying philosophy and literature had to be redirected to a career as a pharmacist to ensure the survival of the Pagés Pharmacy in Barcelona. Today, that same spirit of care for the wellbeing of other continues to impact her family and friends. I hope that these recollections of her life will bring to mind our great love and affection for her.

Montague Lord (7 December 2023)