The first settlers of note were mostly Statue Sellers (figurinai), many who had come up from London and were originally from Picinisco in the Frosinone region. Their principal aim was to escape the crippling economy and disastrous agricultural condition of their homeland and generate enough income to support their families.

The majority of Italians soon diversified, selling ice cream, initially on the streets, later from cafe's.

Once the cafe's were fully operational, it was expected that all the family members contribute. This included long, anti-social hours which as a result led to very little contact with people from out-with the Italian community. Though schooling was deemed important, once secondary school had been completed, the children went directly into the family business.

Much of the money was sent back to Italy either for the older generation left behind or to buy property.

As businesses expanded so the need for new employees began to grow. The head of the business would commonly recruit young Italian's, often from his home village. These Italians in turn would eventually own their own businesses in time.

In the households Italian was spoken, Italian food was the staple diet often with all the family dining together. Religious festivals were vehemently observed.

During the early part of the 20th century, Italians were expected to marry only Italians and it wasn't until the 1950's that there was a distinct shift in this thinking. Indeed, many of the older settlers hoped to return to Italy to retire one day and viewed Scotland in a transitory fashion.

As friendships from fellow settlers grew (through card games and religious occasions), a tight Italian business network soon emerged. In 1935, the Casa D'Italia opened in Glasgow,  a grand home from home for many Italians (this has  since closed down in 1989).

A large percentage of Italians in Scotland during the 30's were registered Fascist Party members. This appears to have been a response from a call from Mussolini, whose party's influence stretched to those communities outside Italy. This led to obvious tensions and with the outbreak of World War II many Italian Cafe's were vandalised and its owners persecuted.

With anti-Catholic sentiment also evident, the speed and the intensity of the violence that the Italians were subjected to shocked many. After all, for nearly half a decade they had lived side by side in total peace. Some of the family members born in the UK even fought for Britain. It wasn't long after that adult males were interned.

Many of these businesses somehow managed to continue trading, relying on the wives, children and the elderly members of the family. Though many had to be rebuilt from scratch following the end of the war.

For Scots-Italian growing up in the post-war period, this was an extremely trying time as taunts and abuse were commonplace. Perhaps as a direct result from this there has been very little immigration from Italy to Scotland since.

There were of course a large number that remained and feeling a greater to need to assimilate it did not take long for many misconceptions to dissolve.

With this understanding and an increase in further education more Scots-Italians were attending university and breaking into professional jobs and breaking out of their traditional roles in the family business.

Today the links with the old country have been preserved as its never been easier or more affordable to visit. Indeed in a town like Barga, links are so strong that if you were to find yourself asking directions, chances are the reply you'll hear may be along the lines of 'nae bother hen, just take a wee left at the lights.'

By all accounts there does exist a Scottish-Italian Tartan (I believe it is awaiting registration in the Scottish Tartans World Register). It is coloured green, white and red representing Italy of course - all on a blue background representing Scotland. This was developed by Paul Davidson, and Italian-born Tony Cirignaco, and is commercially produced by Glencairn Crystal. Mr Cirignaco who manages the Bothwell Bridge Hotel comments "Italians have been in Scotland for so long, and the idea is so simple, that I can’t understand why nobody has thought of it before. It is a way of marrying the two cultures."

What remains evident however is that the Italian identity does not appear to have been diluted, rather it compliments many of the traits personified by living as a Scot, or perhaps I should say, Scots-Italian.