ABOUT THE ANGLO-ITALIAN SOCIETY
The Society was founded in 1945. Through educational and social evenings it aims to promote a greater understanding of Italian language and culture.
This includes the opportunity to learn and improve your Italian through regular classes at all levels.
Social evenings (Feste) are arranged to give everyone the chance to share their interest of all things Italian. Anglo-Italian friendship is encouraged and we welcome all those who have connections with Italy through friends or families.
The Society meets every Tuesday from September till May at the historic building now occupied by The AECC University College of Chiropractic in Boscombe.
There are four language classes, from beginners to conversation level. Classes begin at 19.30 promptly and last till 20.45.
They are followed by refreshments and a chance to socialize and practice your Italian!
A LITTLE HISTORY OF THE SOCIETY
From a personal perspective, by Giovanni Pietrangelo
I am a relative newcomer to the society, having joined in the year 1995-1996, a mere 25 years ago. That year, by coincidence, the society celebrated its 50th anniversary with a meal at the Melford Hall Hotel in Bournemouth on the 2nd July and I attended with Jessica, my wife, who had joined the Society the previous year as a student. I have a letter here saying that In November 1995, I was formally asked, by the then secretary Erna France, if I would take over the conversation class, and I obviously did. I remember when Jessica and I met these two lovely ladies in the form of Gwen and Elaine, who grilled me to assess my suitability and then charmed me with tea and cakes (or was it something more Italian like wine?)
The year I joined, 1995-1996, the programme of events included a talk by Elaine Stock and Gwen Chapman on “Thomas Hardy Novels and locations”, “An evening at the opera” with musicians Anita O’Brien and Patricia Bonelli, as well as “Poets in a landscape”, a talk by Chris Pelly on Italian poets in Roman times. With exception of the late Anita, all these people are here tonight.
I do not want to pre empty the stories of those who have first hand experience of the earlier days of the Society, but I’d like to share with you a few facts that I have come across while reading through a couple of old journals where the minutes of the committee meetings were recorded. This book here dates from 1957, and I have extracted a few interesting things.
From a personal perspective, by Giovanni Pietrangelo
I am a relative newcomer to the society, having joined in the year 1995-1996, a mere 25 years ago. That year, by coincidence, the society celebrated its 50th anniversary with a meal at the Melford Hall Hotel in Bournemouth on the 2nd July and I attended with Jessica, my wife, who had joined the Society the previous year as a student. I have a letter here saying that In November 1995, I was formally asked, by the then secretary Erna France, if I would take over the conversation class, and I obviously did. I remember when Jessica and I met these two lovely ladies in the form of Gwen and Elaine, who grilled me to assess my suitability and then charmed me with tea and cakes (or was it something more Italian like wine?)
The year I joined, 1995-1996, the programme of events included a talk by Elaine Stock and Gwen Chapman on “Thomas Hardy Novels and locations”, “An evening at the opera” with musicians Anita O’Brien and Patricia Bonelli, as well as “Poets in a landscape”, a talk by Chris Pelly on Italian poets in Roman times. With exception of the late Anita, all these people are here tonight.
I do not want to pre empty the stories of those who have first hand experience of the earlier days of the Society, but I’d like to share with you a few facts that I have come across while reading through a couple of old journals where the minutes of the committee meetings were recorded. This book here dates from 1957, and I have extracted a few interesting things.
- In the AGM of 19/2/57, the secretary’s annual report was read first in English by Mr Buchanan-Gacon, then in Italian by Miss Rossella Nicholls. So if you think AGMs are boring now, think again!
- The treasurer was pleased with a balance of £51 16s 1½d.
- The president was the founder, Kenneth Barnes, you shall hear a lot more of him; there were two vice presidents as well the the other officers.
- On joining, nowadays you are never given the rules of the society, but I have a copy of those rules, and rule number 3 says that the society is non-sectarian, non-political and members are expected to show allegiance to the Queen and to the Presidente of the Repubblica. (Jeremy Corbin couldn’t have joined then!) Rule number 4 also stated that the President and vice Presidents shall be able to address meetings in both English and Italian, and that the committee shall be made up of 3 ladies and 3 gentlemen.
- The society was aiming to be part of the establishment. The Town Clerk was informed of the names of the officers and committee members.
- They seem to be lots of coctail parties and dances and dining outs. Proof of this is that a new piano was purchased for St Andrews Hall for £8.0 and it was decided to christen it with a coctail party on 23rd March.
- On one occasion the Italian Consul was invited to give a talk. He was lodged at the Carlton Hotel and the Mayor was invited, when a “fork supper” was held and a professional barman hired. The Italian National anthem was rehearsed at the next meeting and Miss Chapman and Miss Stock were to look after the flowers.
- One of the AGM ended this way: The president asked: “Any more questions?” to which Mrs Newsham got up and asked: “When are we going to have the drinks?” The meeting prompltly ended at 20.55.
- Another entry says that Mr Barnes was unhappy that the Saturday socials held in the hall had to end so early at 10.30pm due to the caretaker being too strict, just when most people were beginning to enjoy themselves!!
- A typical Saturday Social party started with coctails at 7.0pm till 8.30, dancing till 10.30pm followed by supper at the Check Restaurant. Drinks to be gin, martini, sherry. Future parties to include beer. They knew how to live!
- In October 1983 the society looked for a new venue, having been told that no more dates could be booked from the next April. Did they misbehave that much?
- The society moved to the present site at the College of Chiropractic on May 1st 1984, and we are still here. Perhaps we are not misbehaving enough!
- In 1960 Ken Barnes had resigned as President but became Presidente d’Onore, while Eric Brown was elected Presidente Direttore, plus 2 more vice-presidents, of course! This was eventually reversed in 1962 to Presidente and Chairman...to avoid confusion!!
- The meeting of Feb. 1986 recorded that the president Ken Barnes was absent due to ill health.
- The meeting of 22nd March 1986 recorded that a letter was to be sent to the Evening Echo to thank for the obituary for Kenneth Barnes. The funerals were, apropriately, the following Tuesday. (you can see the newspaper cutting on the display) .
- At the following AGM on march 25th 1986, Chris Pelly was duly elected President. He had been chosen by Ken Barnes as his successor, in the way that Roman Emperors chose the next Caesar. Chris had just given a verbal tribute to Ken at his funeral that afternoon at the Crematorium, being a Tuesday of course.
- At the committee meeting on 4th October 1958, it was proposed that Gwen Chapman and Elaine Stock commence a new class for beginners, at least for the time being! (little she knew.....) The minutes of January 2nd 1962 record that Miss Stock requested that no interruptions should be made during lessons – unanimously approved! We find in 1982 that Gwen Chapman is chairman and Elaine Stock is vice-president. They started organizing walks and picnics from 31st May 1983 and I remember their legendary picnics.
- Joan McLay, then known as Miss Woodrow, was appointed Hon Treasurer at the AGM of 27th March 1962 (a child prodigy) . She immidiately asserted her authority at the next meeting when she asked that at the Party after the festa, members should show their membership card at the entrance. In March 1963, Miss Woodrow reported that there was a £358 1s 8d on the debit side and £361 19s 4d on the credit side, leaving £3 17s 8d in the balance. In the later journal, in 1982 Joan is no longer the treasurer, but she was when I joined in 1995.
- In the minutes of the March 1982 AGM, Ken Barnes thanked the teachers, amongst them there was Chris Pelly. He continued to have a class until not so long ago. In a meeting in October 1985, on the subject of replacing teachers absent due to ill health, Chris remarked that it was very unlikely that he would be absent on account of illness, and that he would be prepared to take two classes! You may know that Chris followed Ken Barnes as president.
- Finally, the person that in my mind exemplifies the spirit of the Anglo-Italian Society and who, to this day still actively supports the Society, is Mike France, who served as membership secretary for many years.
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