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Whether over here or over there, what will the weather be in Edinburgh or Rome.
So, what's all this about ?
Well, by scouring newspapers, TV and the Net I figured I could highlight a current story or event that has
recently appeared in the press which of course features a Scots-Italian angle.
LATEST ......
January 14th 2003
Best Wishes for a Happy and Prosperous New Year !!
The search for Scotland's Best Chippie is featured tonight on BBC Scotland.
The program interviews some Scots-Italians such as Aldo Nardini and Dante
Casci who offer their views on Fish and Chips and Italians role in the industry.
The 'Fry-Spy' ruled that Harry
Ramsden's of Inverness was indeed Scotland's Best Chippie.
November 13th 2002
Natalie de Felice, an Edinburgh fashion designer of italian descent died November 13th. Very popular and dynamic, she ran the successful Parters dress salon in the grassmarket area. Her collections were often featured in fashion shows and charity auctions. The Scotsman comments that 'She was an effervescent person with a down-to-earth approach to life which endeared her to everyone. '
She is survived by her daughter Gabriella and grandson William.
November 6th 2002
Michael Demarco, well known and respected Edinburgh born hotelier, died 6th November aged 70. His vast and varied career took him to some of the most exclusive hotels and residences in Britain, including Gleneagles, Turnberry and the Royal Garden Hotel in London and later opened a restaurant in Chelsea.. A keen golfer he was latterly a member of Wentworth. The Scotsman comments that 'His flamboyance was never exaggerated and his concern for his guests remained paramount'.
He is survived by his wife Marjorie, their two sons, and brothers, Richard
and Louis.
August 18th 2002
Scots-Italian play "Scars of War" recently appeared at Edinburgh fringe. It charts the memories of a boy living in the 1950's concerning events about his Scots-Italian family before, during and after WWII in Leith Edinburgh.
The play takes place over a period of fifteen years, from the mid 1930s to 1950 and explores questions to do with the hyphenated identity of immigrants, displacement and a sense of not belonging which are made more acute during wartime. A brother and sister, Mario and Adele Gallo, arrive in Edinburgh from Central Italy and start the complicated process of living in a foreign country. They fall in love.
Mario gets married to Helen
Devlin, a Scots Presbyterian, while Adele has a disastrous love affair with Hugh
Macdougall. Each of the characters, for different reasons, finds his or her life
ripped apart by the horrors of the Second World War. The realism stops here,
though; an Old Woman, always present onstage, seems to dictate the course of
events, predicting the inevitability of war, while in a timeless zone,
Mr Vulcan and a Young Boy can be seen making weapons and plaster casts,
an activity which is closely linked to the devastation happening in the world
outside.
August 15th 2002
The Herald Newspaper
Mike Maran's Captain Corelli a runaway success at the Fringe
Mike Maran, who is featured in our Famous Scots-Italians section directs de Bernieres now legendary war time romance set in the backdrop of the idyllic Mediterranean island of Cephalonia.
The stage for this particular rendition is the equally inspiring location of Valvona & Crolla's on Elm Row.
Mike Maran Productions also present Did you used to be R.D. Laing?, and Private Angelo this year.
August 13th 2002
Nina Conti wins BBC New Comedy Award.
Nina
Conti impressed the judges at the BBC New Talent Comedy Awards 2002 with her
x-rated ventriloquism act, involving a sex-crazed monkey, so much so that she
walked away with the first prize and the chance to work with the BBC.
The final will be shown on BBC on September 7th and was hosted by Jimmy Tarbuck.
Nina is the daughter of actor Tom, famous for his roles in and Shirley Valentine and Friends.
August 7th 2002
New £10m BBC soap to feature traditional Italian Cafe.
The BBC's latest soap, River City, set in Glasgow and due to hit our screens soon features an authentic Italian Cafe which for years has been a mainstay for many Scottish towns. These particular residents of Montego street can enjoy a knickerbocker glory at the Oyster Cafe (which itself is a working set).
One of the show's 18 writers is Ann Marie DiMambro, who honed her craft on High Road.
April 26th 2002
Peter Izzi, boxing coach and physical education teacher; born 1920, died April 21, 2002.
The Herald reports that Peter Izzi, a renowned boxer in his day was best remembered as an inspirational and progressive coach. He enjoyed success as part of of Britain's Olympic coaching team at Montreal and in 1978 two of his Scottish boxers won medals at the Commonwealth Games in Edmonton, Canada.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Rina, son, Michael, and two grandchildren.
March 16th 2002
Carla
Romano, the GMTV roving reporter is
scheduled to share the couch with Eamonn Holmes on the prime time morning show
whilst Fiona Phillips is away on maternity leave.
On her new position, she comments "I do like to be out in the field or doing showbiz interviews, but the sofa is obviously the dream job."
Carla Romano has also worked on BBC Radio Scotland, Reporting Scotland and the Kirsty Wark Show.
February 22nd 2002
National Press
Mario Conti inaugurated as Archbishop of Glasgow
The new Archbishop of Glasgow Mario Conti took charge of the Catholic Church in Scotland in an official ceremony last night at St. Andrew's Cathedral attended by dignitaries, colleague's and family.
The bishop's throne, or cathedra, has lain empty since the passing of the much revered Cardinal Winning. And like his predecessor, Mario Conti has not been afraid to address issues of a controversial nature.
"I want to say that the church no longer stands at a critical distance from the society which it addresses," he said.
Acknowledging Mario Conti's roots, the following quote appeared in today's Herald newspaper:
"Almost lost, amid the invited dignitaries, were family members and close friends, including Agostino Caproni, a cousin of the new archbishop from the family home in Barga, Tuscany, as well as Monsignor Piero Gianini, the local parish priest."
Agostino Caproni is cousin to the new Archbishop and a well known personality in Barga where he owns the local grocers emporium. When I asked Agostino of his lasting memory he had of the new Archbishop he recalled a fond memory from his childhood. When asked as a youngster what he'd like to be when he grew up, Agostino remembers Mario Conti replying "Why, to be Pope of course !".
January 15th 2002
New Archbishop of Glasgow named.
The Most Reverend Mario Conti, 67, the current Bishop of Aberdeen has been
named to replace the late Cardinal Winning as Archbishop of Glasgow. The
decision was announced simultaneously in Glasgow and Rome, with the Catholic
Church in Scotland aware of the appointment only 45 minutes before the
news was made public.
Bishop Conti described Cardinal Winning as a 'hard act to follow', and maintains that faith is the most important issue in the church today.
Bishop Conti will be installed as Archbishop at a mass at St. Andrew's Cathedral on February 22nd .
December 6th 2001
Dario Franchitti and actress Ashley Judd to tie the knot in 'Maddona' Style Highland wedding.
A plethora of Hollywood stars including Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones are expected to jet into Skibo Castle this Monday for what is reputed to be the £1.3 million wedding of Indy car driver Dario Franchitti to US actress Ashley Judd. With Sandra Bullock as chief bridesmaid and the prospect of Robert De Niro making an appearance it's a star spotters dream (if a security chief's nightmare).
Elish Angiolini - Scotland's first lady Solicitor General.
A solicitor by trade Mrs. Angiolini had previously been the procurator fiscal based in Aberdeen for both Grampian and the Highlands and Islands. Her role will include dealing with the fiscal service, complaints about the police and the operational side of the Crown Office.
November 28th 2001
Scots-Italian missing after Rome blast
A suspected gas explosion in the Italian capital has left four confirmed dead and over twenty injured, among the dead are three fire-fighters and a civilian. A Glasgow born 21 year old woman of dual nationality has also been reported missing. The explosion was reported to be so fierce that parked cars were tossed in the air.
November 19th 2001
Ronnie Ancona to star in new BBC series.
Dr. Terrible's House of Horrible, written and starring funnyman Steve Coogan is a spoof series based on the classic hammer films. Ronnie Ancona plays Countess Kronsteen in an episode entitled Lesbian Vampires Of Lust. Ronnie Ancona has also recently starred in the Sketch Show on ITV with Jim Tavare.
November 9th 2001
Harry who? Peter Capaldi's Strictly Sinatra opens throughout Scotland to rave reviews.
October 26th 2001
Scottish Press (various)
£175 a ticket? Juve got to be joking.
With the forthcoming Uefa Champions League match at Parkhead between Celtic and Juventus next week a sell out, touts south of the border have been targeting British based Italians reportedly with ticket prices in excess of £175. Though La Vecchia Signora is already through, Celtic need a win and have to rely on Rosenborg getting a result in Portugal against FC Porto.
October 23rd 2001
BBC Website - Scotland Sport
Chris Capaldi of Boroughmuir Rugby Club has been chosen to represent Scotland at the highest level in the forthcoming international Dubai Emirates World Sevens Tournament.
August 28th 2001
The Daily Record
Profile
of Armando Iannucci, the godfather of comedy.
Not a name that springs to immediately to mind when talking about comedy but Armando Iannucci has been involved in writing and directing shows such as The Mary Whitehouse Experience, The Day Today (which gave us Alan Partridge) and The Friday Night Armistice. His parents left Naples in 1954 to begin a new life in Glasgow where Armando was born ten years later. Armando has also worked for Radio Scotland and his new series The Armando Iannucci Shows premiers on Channel 4 this Thursday.
August 6th 2001
The Herald
Nina Conti performs at the Fringe
Nina Conti, daughter of actor Tom is performing at the Fringe with the show, Let Me Out!, described as "an X-rated ventriloquial farce."
August 4th 2001
The Herald
Call for a Scots-Italian Festival.
Jack McLean in The Herald newspaper asks the question why the large Scots-Italian contingent don't have their own annual Festival. (See our Survey on the Home page).
July 24th 2001
Daily Record
I Want My Girl To Be A Footie Star !
One of the world's most successful female football players, Rose Reilly began her career in Scotland but ended it on a high in Italy, collecting a Golden Boot award, 8 Serie A titles, 4 Italian Cups and made 13 appearances for the Italian national side. In this article she reveals her hopes that one day her daughter will follow in her footsteps.
Rose captained Italy to a World Cup Final in 1991 where they narrowly lost to the USA in front of a capacity 90,000 crowd in China. Her shirt hangs in the new National Football Museum at Hampden Park.
July 19th 2001
ICScotland (website)
The Gordon Ramsey Of Oz
Prestonpans own Raymond Capaldi has achieved notoriety in his new adopted Australia as one of the country's leading chefs. Capaldi started out in the humble surroundings of his parents chip shop before moving onto Gleneagles and the British Embassy in Moscow. Similar to his Scottish counterpart, Capaldi is known for his fiery temperament, dislike for the critics but like Gordon Ramsey has obvious bundles of talent.
The opening of his new multi million dollar Fenix restaurant attracted film stars and celebrities alike ensuring its reputation as one of Melbournes hippest hang outs.
July 11th 2001
Sunday Herald (Website)
Daniela Joins Oxfam in Fight Against Guns
Nardini's in the news again - this time Largs born actress Daniela is spearheading Oxfam's campaign against the global trade in small arms. Read her harrowing story as she recollects her experiences as an Ambassador for Oxfam on her visit to Kenya last year. With no change in UK Arms Export Laws since 1939, Daniela is hoping that the up and coming UN conference on small arms will be the first stepping stone by the international community to bring the illegal small arms trade to a halt.
July 8th 2001
Mail on Sunday
End of an era as Ice Cream dynasty prepares to sell up.
Largs ice cream firm Nardini's is reputably up for sale . A spokesperson for the firm states 'it is sad in a way to see the family firm go up for sale.' The present chairman, (initially brought in to steer the business) is believed to be focussing his efforts on alternative business pursuits. The firm is due to change ownership for the second time in three years.
June 26th 2001
BBC Website - EdFest
Philip Contini of Valvona and Crolla in Edinburgh is featured on this BBC website, which highlights events through the Festival Fringe. This is his interpretation of traditional Neapolitan songs.
June 25th 2001
Daily Mail - Sports Feature
Marino Franchitti, British GT driver was forced to retire from the race at Castle Combe this weekend after a cracked radiator scuppered his chances for a fifth successive victory.
However Marino still leads the championship by 23 points.
June 10th 2001
Sunday Mail - Sports Feature
Young Kilmarnock star Paul di Giacomo was featured in today's Sunday Mail. He talked about his experiences partnering Ally McCoist last season and his hopes for a successful season ahead spearheading Killie's attack.
June 7th 2001
Film Netribution Network (website)
Scots-Italians Sergio Casci and Anne Marie Di Mambro collaborate on new piece Flesh and Blood, wrriting about the experiences of a Scots-Italian family living in Glasgow.
May 27th 2001
Channel 4 -Documentary: Artery: The story of Enrico Cocozza, Scots-Italian Filmmaker.
 | Surreally Scozzese - Art program highlighting the works of Glasgow born Enrico Cocozza, narrated by Daniela Nardini. |
Described
as a pioneer and ahead of his time 'Rico' Cocozza won countless awards and
acclaim for his work in the 40's and 50's. Curiously his name slowly disappeared
and did not come to light again until the mid-80's. In fact, his works had been
re-discovered in a flat above his parents business, The Belhaven Cafe,
and were handed in to historians for fear they may be lost in a chip pan fire !!
Much of Cocozza's work centred around Wishaw and involved local characters and landscapes in surreal situations.
Graduating from Glasgow University in Italian and German, Cocozza spent most of the War years working for the British Government translating for POW's.
His short film titles include Petrol (1957), Assunta (1957) and the award-winning The Living Ghost (1959). Amongst his works was also the well regarded documentary Glasgow's Dockyard (1959).
Having contracted diabetes he found his ability to develop films began to suffer, and as a direct result of this, Cocozza reverted to teaching at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow.
Enrico Cocozza 1921-1997
April 2001
The recent death of Cosimo Presutti the Edinburgh vagrant, known as the 'Gentleman tramp' has been well publicised - his funeral attracted over three hundred people and his tale was documented in a centre page spread for the Evening Times newspaper.
Cosmo (as he became known) had been a familiar face in and around the Royal Mile for over 20 years.
If there's anything or anyone I should be aware of, then email and I'll feature it right here.