Celebration of the link between Tristan and Camogli
Report from Tristan Government UK Representative Chris Carnegy
Photos from Chris Carnegy, Philip Kendall and Ian Brown
The Italian community of London held a special event on 15th May to celebrate the unique link between Tristan da Cunha and the town of Camogli.
Camogli was the hometown of the sailors Andrea Repetto and Gaetano Lavarello, who decided to settle on Tristan after their vessel, the barque Italia, caught fire and ran aground at Seal Bay in 1892.
His Excellency Inigo Lambertini, Italy's UK Ambassador
welcoming everyone to the event.
The event, in the sumptuous setting of the Italian ambassador's official residence on Grosvenor Square, featured talks by His Excellency Inigo Lambertini and Tristan's Administrator Philip Kendall. This was followed by a panel discussion involving two key figures who had flown in from Camogli - the town's Council President Paolo Terrile and Gianfranco Repetto, the Camogli police officer who made a personal pilgrimage to Tristan in 2019.
Tristan da Cunha Administrator Philip Kendall, left,
with His Excellency Inigo Lambertini, centre,
and Alessandro Gaglione who chairs London's Committee of Italians Abroad.
The panel, chaired by Alessandro Gaglione, left, with Camogli Town's Council President Paolo Terrile, centre,
and Gianfranco Repetto, speaking into the microphone.
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| Paolo Terrile making a book presentation to Ambassador HE Inigo Lambertini |
Philip Kendall making his address |
Around seventy specially invited guests enjoyed the informative presentation, including a showing of this musical homage to Tristan as refuge for the shipwreck survivors:
Tristan islanders now living in the UK: Left to right - Avril Repetto-Tinoco, Debbie Elsmore and Ian Brown;
with another guest at the celebration.
Tristanian descendants of the two original settlers include Debbie Elsmore (nee Repetto), Avril Repetto-Tinoco, and Ian Brown, now all UK residents, who attended the event. Also attending was Tristan da Cunha Association Co-Chair John Cooper. The celebration was organised and compered by Alessandro Gaglione who chairs London's Committee of Italians Abroad.
Complitaly+ Italian TV report on the event (in Italian with two interviews in English)
More on the Committee of Italians Abroad, from: https://www.comiteslondra.info/
Comites are representatives of Italians abroad, linked to the country’s diplomatic missions. They are established in each consular district where more than 3,000 Italian citizens reside. Over 400,000 live in London, about 8% of the Italian expatriate population.
The Comites of London researches and identifies the needs of the Italian community and promotes activities for them in the fields of social and cultural life., social and educational assistance, vocational training, recreation and leisure. It also works to protect their rights and interests.