Reggie Valarino
Encyclopedia
The Hon. Dr.
John Reginald Garcia Valarino MB, ChB, better known as Reggie Valarino, (9 June 1941 – 13 March 2009) was a Gibraltarian
doctor
and politician
.
, Spain
, in 1941 to Federico Garcia Montalvo and Eugenia Valarino. His father was a horse trainer
and his mother a housewife
and seamstress
.
from the University of Liverpool
and had been working in the field since 1967, having started his professional career in Gibraltar at St Bernard's Hospital
. Soon after, he opened his own private practice in Gibraltar.
(now the Gibraltar Parliament) in the 1976 general election as a member of the Gibraltar Democratic Movement
(GDM). He was also a former Minister of the Association for the Advancement of Civil Rights
(AACR) through several terms and member of the Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party
(GSLP), serving a total of almost 20 years as an elected representative
of the people of Gibraltar both in Government and in Opposition.
. He was regional representative of the British Islands
and Mediterranean Region
of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association
and was a past secretary of the British Medical Association
(Gibraltar branch). He was also Life President of the Gibraltar Hockey Association.
He died on 13 March 2009, aged 67, after a long illness. Following news of his death, the Gibraltar Parliament observed a minute's silence
in his memory on 17 March 2009. A memorial service
was held for him at the Cathedral of St. Mary the Crowned
on 18 March 2009, which filled to capacity with attendees.
Doctor (title)
Doctor, as a title, originates from the Latin word of the same spelling and meaning. The word is originally an agentive noun of the Latin verb docēre . It has been used as an honored academic title for over a millennium in Europe, where it dates back to the rise of the university. This use spread...
John Reginald Garcia Valarino MB, ChB, better known as Reggie Valarino, (9 June 1941 – 13 March 2009) was a Gibraltarian
Gibraltarian people
The Gibraltarians are a cultural group native to Gibraltar, a British overseas territory located near the southernmost tip of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance to the Mediterranean sea.- Origins :...
doctor
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
.
Early life
Dr. Valarino was born in MadridMadrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, in 1941 to Federico Garcia Montalvo and Eugenia Valarino. His father was a horse trainer
Horse trainer
In horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...
and his mother a housewife
Homemaker
Homemaking is a mainly American term for the management of a home, otherwise known as housework, housekeeping or household management...
and seamstress
Sewing
Sewing is the craft of fastening or attaching objects using stitches made with a needle and thread. Sewing is one of the oldest of the textile arts, arising in the Paleolithic era...
.
Medical career
Dr. Valarino graduated as a medical practitionerMedical practice
A medical practice or practice of medicine is the practice of medicine, as performed by a medical practitioner—a physician...
from the University of Liverpool
University of Liverpool
The University of Liverpool is a teaching and research university in the city of Liverpool, England. It is a member of the Russell Group of large research-intensive universities and the N8 Group for research collaboration. Founded in 1881 , it is also one of the six original "red brick" civic...
and had been working in the field since 1967, having started his professional career in Gibraltar at St Bernard's Hospital
St Bernard's Hospital
St Bernard's Hospital is the only civilian general hospital in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar.-Juan Mateos:In 1567, during Gibraltar's Spanish period, a retired Spanish innkeeper by the name of Juan Mateos converted his house into a 20 bed hospital...
. Soon after, he opened his own private practice in Gibraltar.
Political career
Dr. Valarino was first elected to the then House of AssemblyGibraltar House of Assembly
The Gibraltar Parliament is the legislature of the British overseas territory of Gibraltar. Between 1969 and 2006 it was called the Gibraltar House of Assembly.-Functions:...
(now the Gibraltar Parliament) in the 1976 general election as a member of the Gibraltar Democratic Movement
Gibraltar Democratic Movement
The Gibraltar Democratic Movement was a political party in Gibraltar. It was the forerunner of the present Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party. Joe Bossano, Chief Minister from 1988 to 1996, left the Integration with Britain Party in 1975 to form the GDM, which later became the GSLP. In the only...
(GDM). He was also a former Minister of the Association for the Advancement of Civil Rights
Association for the Advancement of Civil Rights
The Association for the Advancement of Civil Rights is a now defunct political party in Gibraltar.Like all Gibraltar political parties, it opposed transfer of sovereignty over Gibraltar from the United Kingdom to Spain...
(AACR) through several terms and member of the Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party
Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party
The Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party is the oldest surviving active political party in Gibraltar. Its grass roots are deep in the Trade Union Movement, as its founder and former leader Joe Bossano was the District Officer of the Transport and General Workers Union...
(GSLP), serving a total of almost 20 years as an elected representative
Elections in Gibraltar
Elections in Gibraltar gives information on election and election results in Gibraltar.Gibraltar elects on national level a legislature. The Gibraltar Parliament has 17 members, all elected for a four year term in one constituency with each voter getting to vote for their selection of eight...
of the people of Gibraltar both in Government and in Opposition.
Later life and death
Dr. Valarino had been a member of a number of public committees. From 1994-1996 he was chairman of the Gibraltar branch of the European MovementEuropean Movement
The European Movement International is a lobbying association that coordinates the efforts of associations and national councils with the goal of promoting European integration, and disseminating information about it.-History:...
. He was regional representative of the British Islands
British Islands
British Islands is a term within the law of the United Kingdom which since 1889 has referred collectively to the following four states:*the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ;...
and Mediterranean Region
Mediterranean Basin
In biogeography, the Mediterranean Basin refers to the lands around the Mediterranean Sea that have a Mediterranean climate, with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers, which supports characteristic Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub vegetation...
of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association
Commonwealth Parliamentary Association
The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, previously known as the Empire Parliamentary Association, is an organisation, of British origin, which works to support good governance, democracy and human rights...
and was a past secretary of the British Medical Association
British Medical Association
The British Medical Association is the professional association and registered trade union for doctors in the United Kingdom. The association does not regulate or certify doctors, a responsibility which lies with the General Medical Council. The association’s headquarters are located in BMA House,...
(Gibraltar branch). He was also Life President of the Gibraltar Hockey Association.
He died on 13 March 2009, aged 67, after a long illness. Following news of his death, the Gibraltar Parliament observed a minute's silence
Moment of silence
A moment of silence is the expression for a period of silent contemplation, prayer, reflection, or meditation. Similar to flying a flag at half-mast, a moment of silence is often a gesture of respect, particularly in mourning for those who have recently died or as part of a commemoration ceremony...
in his memory on 17 March 2009. A memorial service
Funeral
A funeral is a ceremony for celebrating, sanctifying, or remembering the life of a person who has died. Funerary customs comprise the complex of beliefs and practices used by a culture to remember the dead, from interment itself, to various monuments, prayers, and rituals undertaken in their honor...
was held for him at the Cathedral of St. Mary the Crowned
Cathedral of St. Mary the Crowned
The Cathedral of Saint Mary the Crowned is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Gibraltar. It is the primary centre of Catholic worship in the Diocese of Gibraltar.-15th Century:The original building of the current cathedral was built during the Spanish period...
on 18 March 2009, which filled to capacity with attendees.