A new cathedral cloister garden dedicated to the more than 100
Scots-Italians who died in a wartime tragedy has been officially opened
by Glasgow’s archbishop.
The memorial remembers those who were were
killed on board the cruise ship ‘Arandora Star’ in 1940.
Archbishop Mario Conti of Glasgow, himself a Scots-Italian, says the
new monument-- an interactive installation-- is designed to encourage
people to “reflect on the great mysteries of life, death and
resurrection.”
“What people will see and experience on a visit to the garden is a
result of the generosity of today's Scots-Italian community who raised
the funds to create the installation,” said the archbishop as the only
remaining survivor of the tragedy, 91-year-old Rando Bertoia, listened
to his words.
Most Italians living in the U.K. were detained after the outbreak of
the Second World War.
The ‘Arandora Star’ had been taking such internees
to Canada.
Off the coast of Ireland, though, it was struck by a German
torpedo.
About 100 Scots-Italians were among the 800 victims of the
attack.
The silver-mirrored central monument, which organizers say is the
largest in the world dedicated to the tragedy, stands next to a
200-year-old olive tree that was donated by the people of Tuscany,
Italy.
It sits next to the newly refurbished St. Andrew’s Cathedral,
which was re-opened only last month after three years of restoration
work.
Archbishop Conti was joined for today’s inaugurated by Alex Salmond,
the First Minister of Scotland, who helped launch the project three
years ago.
“This oasis of peace and contemplation at St. Andrew’s Cathedral is a
magnificent tribute to those who tragically lost their lives aboard the
Arandora Star during the Second World War and to the part the
Scots-Italian community plays in the rich tartan fabric of our nation.”
Also present today was Giulia Chiarini, the Roman architect who
designed the garden and monument, as well as the mayors of the Italian
towns from which most Scot-Italians hail - Barga and Pistoia in Tuscany
and Picinisco and Filignano in the Lazio region.
While the garden was being blessed, Scots-Italian opera singer Luigi
Corvi sang Schubert’s Ave Maria, accompanied by musicians from Milan.