To all of you who may have a personal connection with the Arandora Star… You can learn more about the tragedy by visiting www.arandorastarwales.us .
I want to draw your attention to a very important anniversary coming up on July 2nd, 2010. This date marks the 70th anniversary since the WW2 sinking of the Arandora Star, carrying interned civilians from Britain to Canada. The ship was torpedoed and sank with terrible loss of life off the north coast of Ireland. The majority who died were Italian.
My own Welsh-Italian family were touched deeply, with the drowning of my great-uncle from Swansea and my father’s cousin (who was actually one of the ship’s crew). My grandfather, Giuseppe Pelosi, a cafe proprietor from Swansea, was an internee on the ship. However, he miraculously ‘hung on’ for hours in the freezing, oil-laden Atlantic waters with his friend, Angelo Greco, and other men with Italian surnames so familiar to people throughout the communities of Britain. For those who survived, on returning to Britain, they were immediately shipped to a prison camp in the Australian outback.
I am a member of a small group of volunteers committed to raising funds to create the first Welsh national memorial to the Arandora Star tragedy. The memorial will be unveiled in a ceremony in Cardiff’s Metropolitan Cathedral of St David on 2nd July, 2010. The memorial is being created by the Welsh-Italian artist, Susanna Ciccotti, from Swansea and world-famous stone carver, Ieuan Rees, from Ammanford.
We desperately need to contact those Welsh-Italian families with connections to the tragedy. Families with surnames such as Conti, Lusardi, Pompa, Rabaiotti, Rossi – and many more. We want as many family members as possible to attend the unveiling ceremony, to celebrate the memory of their loved-ones. To find out more, and to receive a personal invitation, they should contact the following:-
Bruna Chezzi, Committee Secretary: Flat 6 Partridge Court, Partridge Road, Cardiff CF24 3QP Tel: 07825265406; arandorastar.wales@yahoo.co.uk
or
Paulette Pelosi: ‘Vallegrande’, 17 Clyne View, Killay, Swansea SA2 7EA Tel: (01792) 427774; paulette.pelosi@ntlworld.com
Finally, we urgently need to raise more funds to pay for the memorial – if anyone is able to help us please, they should make cheques out to the ‘Arandora Star Memorial Fund in Wales’, and send to the Treasurer: Cav. Raimondo Zavaglia MBE BA AIL, 6 Quarry Dale, Rumney, Cardiff CF3 3BR; raimondo.zavaglia@justice.gov.uk; Tel: 07793 392684
Please pass this message on to all you know, as soon as possible.
Thank you very much,
Paulette Pelosi
An article by Bruna Chezzi published on www.parmaepiacenzaonline.it. View the article here.
Sento la nostalgia del mio passato…, a Natale, nel Galles si festeggia pensando all’Italia… di Bruna Chezzi, Cardiff. (articolo sulla cena natalizia del 29 Dicembre).
Ore 18, partenza da Cardiff. Comincia l’avventura…Un minibus pieno di studenti d’italiano, una canzone da imparare per scaldarci un po’ e prepararci alla serata…Volare, oh oh, cantare, oh oh oh…Impariamo qualche parola nuova di italiano, mentre con entusiasmo arriviamo a Blacwood,una piccola cittadina gallese a nord di Cardiff.
Finalmente eccoci, davanti a noi uno splendido albergo in stile georgiano, sulla cima di una collina; un quadretto pittoresco tra il buio dei boschi tutt’intorno e le luci della citta` a valle. Pare gia` un presepio! Siamo tra i primi ad arrivare…un bicchiere in compagnia davanti al caminetto del bar, un ospite un po’ speciale dall’Italia ci intrattiene e conversa piacevolmente con gli studenti mentre gli ospiti arrivano piano piano, sorridono, si abbracciano e si salutano in italiano! Per un momento pare d’essere in Italia! Si scalda l’atmosfera e comincia la festa!
La serata e` all’insegna dell’ospitalita` e la simpatia degli Amici Valceno Galles, la buona e semplice cucina emiliana…alcuni membri del comitato si son fatti cuochi per una sera (un evento raro e da sfruttare senza dubbio, soprattutto per le mogli di alcuni di loro!), l’estrazione dei premi della lotteria, e per finire tutti a ballare il ballo liscio con la sua allegria e un tocco di nostalgia!
E` ormai una tradizione consolidata per gli Amici Val Ceno Galles riunirsi alla fine di novembre e celebrare l’avvento del Natale ricordando le proprie origini emiliane con una cena nataliza a cui partecipano piu` di cento persone. Alle loro feste c’e` sempre spazio per chiunque dimostri curiosita`, interesse e simpatia per la comunita` italo-gallese e le iniziative del gruppo. Spesso i pomeriggi e le serate con gli amici Val Ceno sono un’opportunita` per risfoderare qualche vecchia abitudine, come il gioco della briscola o le bocce, e incontrare vecchi e nuovi amici che hanno in comune un legame con l’Italia e con il Galles.
Da 9 anni insegno la lingua e la cultura italiana all’Universita` di Cardiff, faccio ricerca e mi occupo di vari aspetti della comunita` italiana nel Galles meridionale. Adoro sentirmi parte di due culture e mi piace poter trasmettere la ricchezza di questo connubio agli studenti che vengono alle mie lezioni per imparare l’italiano,la storia e la cultura dell’Italia. E cosi`, anche quest’anno ho portato un gruppo di ragazzi e adulti di diverse nazionalita` alla tradizionale cena natalizia degli Amici Val Ceno.
Durante la serata abbiamo assaporato un pezzo di storia dell’immigazione italiana nel Galles, la cultura italiana attraverso il cibo, le danze, la canzone popolare e il folclore del dialetto bardigiano che assume un accento gallese, quel senso di cameratismo e impegno sociale nei confronti di due paesi, quello di origine e quello di adozione.
Io e i miei studenti abbiamo veramente apprezzato tutto questo e per noi il Natale e` gia`cominciato in compagnia degli Amici Val Ceno Galles, nel segno della pace tra Paesi e culture diverse!
Buon Natale al Galles e agli amici italiani nel mondo! Spero che sia per tutti un Natale tranquillo, che guarda alle cose semplici e buone di una volta, per preservarle e trasmetterle alle generazioni future. Buon Natale a tutti con l’amicizia e l’affetto delle persone vicine e quelle lontane per la distanza, ma vicine nel cuore!
The AVC have teamed up with Bologna based Italian language school, Madrelingua, to offer free Italian lessons.
What is on offer exactly?
- One weeks free Italian lessons in Bologna. That’s 20 hours of lessons 4 hours a day, usually priced at 200 euro.
- Students would need to pay for their own accommodation (the school can find accommodation for around 112 euros per week).
Saturday 3rd October at St. David’s Cathedral in Charles St. Cardiff
(behind Marks ans Spencer Queen St. store).
Special Concert by Cwmbach Male Choir and soprano Sally Kingsbury accompanied by Ryan Wood.
7.30 pm start to end about 9.30 so you can hear the concert then go out on the town!
Admission only £6.00 (ASMF)
Visita al Cimiterodi Guerra in Beechly, Chepstow.
Date: Sunday 1st November
Details Sig.na Nilde. Tel 02920 549 838 (ACLI)
Pranzo Natalizio at St. Mary’s Hall, Canton, Cardiff.
Date: 6th December.
Details Sig.na Nilde 02920 549 838 or M.Fantini 01443 670 752 (ACLI).
Tha annual AVC Christmas Cena at Blackwood’s Maes Manor Hotel has been announced for Sunday 29th November.
Make sure you let everyone know, do not keep it to yourself – tell your family and friends – especially those without access to the net – and do come along and support.
Book with any committee member ASAP please.
Contact: Mary Strinati (01443 771397), Paul Pelopeda (01443 862634) or any committee member.
There’s a second chance to hear Liz Brown’s documentary about the origins of Rhondda Cynon Taf’s Italian community this Sunday (6th September) at 3pm.
Tune in on 107.9fm or listen online at www.gtfm.co.uk.
UPDATE:
by Dino Carpanini
With a forecast of an unpredictable summer for us to look forward to, Sunday June 21st did not prove to be an exception. The day dawned cloudy with the heavy scent of dampness in the air. As usual, the AVC committee were first on the scene to prepare for the day – setting up the bocce rinks, the sound system, car parking etc.
Mass was celebrated in the Abbey Church at 12 noon (in the absence of the organ, music by accordion!). This was followed by a picnic, by this time the slight rainfall we experienced prior to mid-day abated for all to enjoy their al fresco lunch.
The first event of the day being the draw and the commencement of the bocce knockout competition. Comprising of 32 teams, playing in pairs, the winning team would take away the prestigious AVC Challenge Trophy. During this long competition, other events took place in other parts of the field, including the childrens sports with short distance athletics races, throughly enjoyed by all our younger members – and of course, the great finale of these events being the tug-o-war with parents, grandparents and friends joining the boys and girls to make it an all action, fun loving event.
The raffle sales and prize winning draw proved its usual success, as the revenue it made along with the nominal entry charge for adults (children were free) helped to defray the expenses incurred on the day – such as charges for bouncy castles, sound systems, medals, trophies, prizes plus a contribution to Belmont Abbey for the use of their facilities.
The bocce competition ended late in the afternoon, with a large supportive crowd cheering on the finalists – Paul and Mark Tambini versus Domenico Casetta and his daughter Nesta. After a very close finish, Franco and Sandra’s sons emerged triumphant – winning by just ONE point. So well done the Tambini Bros. and better luck next time the Casettas!
A measure of the days success being that late into the evening, with the setting of the sun, a great number of AVC members and friends and guests were still engaged in a “firosso” on a grand scale. Catching up on news, events of the past and looking forward to meeting again in the summer in Bardi.
We look forward to seeing you all next year.
ORIGINAL POST:
Boce and Sports, Bouncy Castle and more… the Scampagnata is always a fun filled day for the whole family. Mass will be at 12:30pm.
Location: Belmont Abbey, Hereford
Date: Sunday 21st June
Price: £5
Born in 1937, Aldo spent most of his life serving the people of Rhondda in Bacchetta’s Restaurant and delicattessen in Porth.
In the 1950’s he served, with twin brother Mario, in Berlin with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers.
Returning to Wales, he continued in the family business and became involved in many activities outside the shop.
He joined Players Anonymous, performing in many of their productions.
His interest in local history led him to co-publish books on old rhondda.
He was a keen and active member of the Amici Val Ceno Galles and Trustee of the Vision Foundation.
A member of the Cwmbach Male Voice Choir, he performed with them in Bardi, on their visit there last year.
More recently, even when struggling with his illness, he was a founder member of the newly formed Arandora Star Memorial fund for Wales.
Throughout his life he maintained a strong love for his family and for his church, where he was chairman of the Parish Advisory Council.
For some years Aldo and I gave talks across South Wales on the Italian connection and we also worked together in helping arrange the Choir’s visit to Italy.
In all our activities he was positive and enthusiastic to the end.
Along with the rest of the Amici Val Ceno Galles committee – I can only say – “Aldo, thanks for the memories!”.
Romeo Basini