Manuel Sobrinho Simões recalls the first photo with son Manel on his shoulders

Pathologist Manuel Sobrinho Simões looks back on the first time he was photographed with his son, Manel, riding on his shoulders.

The first photo in the garden at Vila Praia de Âncora

"That was the first time I was ever photographed with Manel on my shoulders, after my father-in-law spent a long time carefully setting up the shot. I was about 27 then, and our first child was a year old and a bit. The setting is the garden at the house in Vila Praia de Âncora, and the real subjects of the picture are the boy’s frightened expression and the little tree standing behind us.

I’d like you to pay attention to the plant, which was the crucial element in the frame. It had been bought by Father Areias, who was told it was a type of Araucaria, and that choice was anything but accidental. Right in front of us stood the majestic Araucaria at Dr Morais Cabral’s house, planted in 1886 and officially listed as being of public interest in 1995. With no way to compare-indeed, it was impossible-we always believed we were helping another Araucaria to grow, one that would match the ‘crown jewel’ of Dr João Adelino [Morais Cabral], and in doing so would symbolically strengthen the intergenerational friendship between the two tribes."

Manuel Sobrinho Simões, family milestones, and the growing tree

"At first everything went well, and when our first granddaughter was born, around thirty years later, we repeated the pose with Mariana on my shoulders, by then with the Araucaria already a sizeable tree. Sadly, around that time it fell ill with an infestation. We called in Mr Rocha, a specialist from Serralves Park, and he was unequivocal: the tree had an incurable disease, and there was nothing to be done.

I’ve always had a real fondness for plants in general, and trees in particular, and Manel had become a specialist in trees and forests. Perhaps that’s why we weren’t ready for Mr Rocha’s additional remark: the tree wasn’t an Araucaria (sic). Our world collapsed. We carried on looking after it as best we could and, about three years ago, we even managed to photograph me with Manuelzinho, the youngest grandson, on my shoulders. I was 75 at the time, and now the contest is between me and the fake Araucaria in terms of who lasts longer."

Manuel Sobrinho Simões
Doctor, professor, researcher
78 years old