(Paulette Pelosi of Killay making this Comment). I have already commented on the Grafton Maggs interview. I just have to (again) congratulate you, Greg, for making this possible, and perfect commentator, Lucia, on this interview. Your detailed description of your special Macari family, their migration to Wales, via Scotland, their highly successful (through hard work & naturally high standards!) businesses and wonderful range of family photographs, I can connect to! Lucia, we may be, I suspect, of slightly different generations, but we share important features of background history. My own "Nonno' Giuseppe Pelosi and my Nonna, Maria Carmela Di Marco were also from one of those mountain villages in beautiful Picinisco/Lazio area of central Italy. A large majority of Italians came to Wales from Bardi, in the north, but a sizeable number, like our grandparents came from Picinisco. Mine came from Vallegrande. I recall, in the 90s, visiting the region and being shown the mountain village from where Charles Forte came. Originally, Mortale, it was renamed, “Monforte" in the family's honour. Yes, as I know from my many visits there, it was very beautiful, but in our grandparents’ day, a living could not be made on the land. My Gluseppe & Carmela left there, 1907, and emigrated to to Ystrad, Rhondda. In those days, Italy provided the cherry wood pit props for the Welsh mines, where 'Coal was King’ - and a good living could be made. However, my Nonno’s sustained an accident in the pit. By 1908, with their firstborn, Angelina, they moved to Swansea, where they opened their cafe & ice-cream, businesses. I was brought up in the 'Dillwyn Cafe, Swansea. We were next door to Macari's fish & chip cafe. Mrs Macari had been my grandmother's good friend, back in the 'old country. Circa 1919-20, my property-wise grandfather did his 'footfall research' on a previously 28-room hotel at 680, Mumbles Road, Southend. Those premises were beloved of the whole family. Grafton Maggs and yourself spoke clearly of the effect on our Italian ancestors here, when Mussolini brought Italy into the war against Britain. In Mumbles, 1940, with his three sons in the British Forces, my grandfather received the early hours knock on the door and he was rounded up as an 'enemy alien'. Meanwhile, like your grandmother, Lucia, mine was also not permitted to remain living near the sea at Mumbles. She had to go and live in a shared house in Godregraig, Swansea Valley. My grandfather was taken to Liverpool Docks (prior to this, he was held at Bury's inhumane Warth Mills Camp) Those 2 ships, big & small, you spoke of, Lucia: my grandfather and my grandmother's brother, Michele Di Marco were marched onto the bigger ship, the ill-fated, Arandora Star. Within 24 hours of leaving Liverpool, it was torpedoed off the Irish coast, resulting in great loss of life, especially for the Italians. Miraculously, my 58-year old grandfather, survived for hours in the cold, oil-covered waters, amid the less-fortunate men. These were men from the mountains of Italy, not natural swimmers. My grandmother's brother, Michele Di Marco drowned. He is commemorated in Wales* first national memorial to the 53 Welsh Italians who drowned, our Arandora Star Memorial Fund in Wales created in 2010. Ironically, you say your grandparents first left central Italy for Greenock Scotland...my grandfather, still traumatised, after being retrieved from the waters, was sent to Greenock, to be put on the SS Dunera, for a long intolerable voyage to Internment Camps in Australia. The Dunera narrowly missed being torpedoed. Giuseppe spent the duration of the war in Australia, returning to Swansea & Mumbles in 1945, a relieved but "infirm man. He passed away 6 years later. Lucia, your clear descriptions of your catering family's high standards (there always should be a senior family member present in each business etc). I can relate to completely - standards I personally recall. I only recently discovered your excellent video-interview (and Grafton Maggs wonderful heartfelt tribute to your family). Previously, I obviously knew of your family's existence and range of admirable businesses, but I had never heard your detailed story. I am extremely grateful to you, Lucia, for sharing your story so eloquently… our personal histories need to be told and shared, so our ancestors' strengths, in the face of often adversity should be voiced and I believe they are a rich and detailed part of Welsh (and in your case, Scots) 'Social History as a whole! Thank you Lucia! I have my family's hand-painted (onto wood) ice Cream Menu, 1950's. with a Knickerbocker Glory selling at shillings and sixpence..a lot of money, back then! Perhaps I'll come down to Limeslade and you could create one for me! Ciao & Salvel Paulette x
Absolutely delight to see Fortes still going strong, as a ex-member of staff I can honestly say, hand on heart that I loved my time working with Lucia and Amelia. Two amazingly strong beautiful women I am proud to know and call friends. As soon as this horrible time is over I will be visiting again.
Forte's has been one of my favourite places to visit for, well all my like really. Mum used to take me to the original Forte's in Mumbles when I was a very small child and in recent years ,I have had the privilege of taking my mum to the one in Limeslade . For me Forte's has always been a place for ice cream, showboats (a cake in a chocolate shell .I loved them ! )and coffee. Most of all it was always a friendly place to go and chill out for a while.
Great video with lots of memories of the wonderful chrome and glass experience of Fortes in the Dunns in the late 50s. An important part of my growing up.
I worked at the Oystermouth branch as a summer job in 1976. I had some photos of the people there which I unfortunately lost before I could show them to Lucia. I remember her playing the flute. I also remember Ryan Davies wife and children coming in because they were friends of Lucias mother. All lovely people.
Hi Greg. I've just subscribed to your channel. I am impressed with your presentation skills on this video, and on other videos that you have hosted. I am actually old enough to recall the grand old days when Fortes was still located in the Dunns. My parents use to take my brother and I there as a special treat back in the 1960s. We actually know each other as my son is called Greg and my family and I are regular customers at Fortes so we have spoken several times in the past. Great video my friend!
Hi David. Thank you for your kind comment! :) and thank you for subscribing, it’s great to connect! Of course I remember you and your family at Forte’s! So much history around the business and I loved working there. Hope you’ve been keeping well and say hi to Greg! Speak soon and best wishes, Greg
So enjoyed your great video Greg. Think it's solved the mystery of the coffee bar my Dad took me to in Union Street when I was 5/6 (1958l). The man serving was lovely, my Dad called him 'Mac' & I was always spoilt rotten and given a Club biscuit. Can still remember the sound & steam of the coffee machine. Sure he looked like one of the men in the photographs, but it's a long time ago.
Thank you Susan for your comment, Forte’s is a lovely part of Mumbles history with many of us sharing childhood memories, glad it solved your mystery! Greg
My earliest memory of having ice cream was in the Oystermouth Fortes . My older cousins would take me there often . I still remember the taste and smell of that ice cream. Such a lovely place .
(Paulette Pelosi of Killay making this Comment).
I have already commented on the Grafton Maggs interview. I just have to (again) congratulate you, Greg, for making this possible, and perfect commentator, Lucia, on this interview. Your detailed description of your special Macari family, their migration to Wales, via Scotland, their highly successful (through hard work & naturally high standards!) businesses and wonderful range of family photographs, I can connect to!
Lucia, we may be, I suspect, of slightly different generations, but we share important features of background history. My own "Nonno' Giuseppe Pelosi and my Nonna, Maria Carmela Di Marco were also from one of those mountain villages in beautiful Picinisco/Lazio area of central Italy. A large majority of Italians came to Wales from Bardi, in the north, but a sizeable number, like our grandparents came from Picinisco. Mine came from Vallegrande. I recall, in the 90s, visiting the region and being shown the mountain village from where Charles Forte came. Originally, Mortale, it was renamed, “Monforte" in the family's honour. Yes, as I know from my many visits there, it was very beautiful, but in our grandparents’ day, a living could not be made on the land. My Gluseppe & Carmela left there, 1907, and emigrated to to Ystrad, Rhondda. In those days, Italy provided the cherry wood pit props for the Welsh mines, where 'Coal was King’ - and a good living could be made. However, my Nonno’s sustained an accident in the pit. By 1908, with their firstborn, Angelina, they moved to Swansea, where they opened their cafe & ice-cream, businesses. I was brought up in the 'Dillwyn Cafe, Swansea. We were next door to Macari's fish & chip cafe. Mrs Macari had been my grandmother's good friend, back in the 'old country.
Circa 1919-20, my property-wise grandfather did his 'footfall research' on a previously 28-room hotel at 680, Mumbles Road, Southend. Those premises were beloved of the whole family. Grafton Maggs and yourself spoke clearly of the effect on our Italian ancestors here, when Mussolini brought Italy into the war against Britain. In Mumbles, 1940, with his three sons in the British Forces, my grandfather received the early hours knock on the door and he was rounded up as an 'enemy alien'. Meanwhile, like your grandmother, Lucia, mine was also not permitted to remain living near the sea at Mumbles. She had to go and live in a shared house in Godregraig, Swansea Valley.
My grandfather was taken to Liverpool Docks (prior to this, he was held at Bury's inhumane Warth Mills Camp) Those 2 ships, big & small, you spoke of, Lucia: my grandfather and my grandmother's brother, Michele Di Marco were marched onto the bigger ship, the ill-fated, Arandora Star. Within 24 hours of leaving Liverpool, it was torpedoed off the Irish coast, resulting in great loss of life, especially for the Italians. Miraculously, my 58-year old grandfather, survived for hours in the cold, oil-covered waters, amid the less-fortunate men. These were men from the mountains of Italy, not natural swimmers. My grandmother's brother, Michele Di Marco drowned. He is commemorated in Wales* first national memorial to the 53 Welsh Italians who drowned, our Arandora Star Memorial Fund in Wales created in 2010. Ironically, you say your grandparents first left central Italy for Greenock Scotland...my grandfather, still traumatised, after being retrieved from the waters, was sent to Greenock, to be put on the SS Dunera, for a long intolerable voyage to Internment Camps in Australia.
The Dunera narrowly missed being torpedoed. Giuseppe spent the duration of the war in Australia, returning to Swansea & Mumbles in 1945, a relieved but "infirm man. He passed away 6 years later.
Lucia, your clear descriptions of your catering family's high standards (there always should be a senior family member present in each business etc). I can relate to completely - standards I personally recall. I only recently discovered your excellent video-interview (and Grafton Maggs wonderful heartfelt tribute to your family). Previously, I obviously knew of your family's existence and range of admirable businesses, but I had never heard your detailed story. I am extremely grateful to you, Lucia, for sharing your story so eloquently… our personal histories need to be told and shared, so our ancestors' strengths, in the face of often adversity should be voiced and I believe they are a rich and detailed part of Welsh (and in your case, Scots) 'Social History as a whole! Thank you Lucia! I have my family's hand-painted (onto wood) ice Cream Menu, 1950's. with a Knickerbocker Glory selling at shillings and sixpence..a lot of money, back then! Perhaps I'll come down to Limeslade and you could create one for me!
Ciao & Salvel Paulette x
Absolutely delight to see Fortes still going strong, as a ex-member of staff I can honestly say, hand on heart that I loved my time working with Lucia and Amelia. Two amazingly strong beautiful women I am proud to know and call friends. As soon as this horrible time is over I will be visiting again.
Forte's has been one of my favourite places to visit for, well all my like really. Mum used to take me to the original Forte's in Mumbles when I was a very small child and in recent years ,I have had the privilege of taking my mum to the one in Limeslade . For me Forte's has always been a place for ice cream, showboats (a cake in a chocolate shell .I loved them ! )and coffee. Most of all it was always a friendly place to go and chill out for a while.
Great video with lots of memories of the wonderful chrome and glass experience of Fortes in the Dunns in the late 50s. An important part of my growing up.
Brilliant story. Thank you. Love Forte's especially the teacakes and scones.
Well done Greg this will bring a lot of memories back for a number of people.
I worked at the Oystermouth branch as a summer job in 1976. I had some photos of the people there which I unfortunately lost before I could show them to Lucia. I remember her playing the flute. I also remember Ryan Davies wife and children coming in because they were friends of Lucias mother. All lovely people.
Hi Greg. I've just subscribed to your channel. I am impressed with your presentation skills on this video, and on other videos that you have hosted.
I am actually old enough to recall the grand old days when Fortes was still located in the Dunns. My parents use to take my brother and I there as a special treat back in the 1960s.
We actually know each other as my son is called Greg and my family and I are regular customers at Fortes so we have spoken several times in the past. Great video my friend!
Hi David. Thank you for your kind comment! :) and thank you for subscribing, it’s great to connect! Of course I remember you and your family at Forte’s! So much history around the business and I loved working there. Hope you’ve been keeping well and say hi to Greg! Speak soon and best wishes, Greg
So enjoyed your great video Greg. Think it's solved the mystery of the coffee bar my Dad took me to in Union Street when I was 5/6 (1958l). The man serving was lovely, my Dad called him 'Mac' & I was always spoilt rotten and given a Club biscuit. Can still remember the sound & steam of the coffee machine. Sure he looked like one of the men in the photographs, but it's a long time ago.
Thank you Susan for your comment, Forte’s is a lovely part of Mumbles history with many of us sharing childhood memories, glad it solved your mystery! Greg
My earliest memory of having ice cream was in the Oystermouth Fortes . My older cousins would take me there often . I still remember the taste and smell of that ice cream. Such a lovely place .
What a great video and history lesson on another Swansea icon, thanks
Well done Greggy! I love this! 👍❤️😁
Excellent video mate! Very interesting...
Interesting video I've all ways liked fortes I'm 70 and I've been going there since I was a kid
The best place to go and so nice it has hardly changed in all these years!
Where do you find the old photographs is there a website?
Hi Oli, thank you for your comment - The photographs were for Lucia, the owner of Forte’s.
Brilliant
Best ice cream ever!
Agreed!
hello
Forte's ice cream doesn't taste the same as it did in the 70s and 80s!