Italian Dances, etc.
Donated by Connie Newman
With the Valente sisters & their brother in them. Taken, possibly at the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh (not the Leith one) in 1955.
At the head of the table is Nicky Valente, (not sure of the man next to him) then Rena Valente, (can't remember the name of the girl next to her), then my sister Toni, her friend Ida (not Italian) next to her, then me & then Eva Valente.
Taken at the Maybury in 16th August 1955
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Left to right: my sister Toni, her fiance Francis Miele, Me, Armando Magiotta, Phyllis Margiotta, Rose (can't remember 2nd name) and Gloria Crolla. Gloria and Phyllis were sisters (Valvona & Crolla). Gloria was a close friend of Toni's & never married. Phyllis married Armando Margiotta & they started the Fudge Shop in the Royal Mile, which still has their name, though both died some years ago. I don't know if it is still in the family (they had no children) or if the name is kept because it was famous under that name!
The name of the photographer on the back is Edmund Elas, Claremont Crescent.
The Maybury again - July 1956. Me & Toni. The name of the photographer on the back of this one is S (I think it was Sammy) Scappatccio, Warrender Park Crescent..
1957 again. The couple on the left are Margaret Kirkpatrick (my friend from the office) & her partner - I think was called Eric. Then Toni & Francis in the middle, then Me & my partner on the right. I have no idea who he is!!! The photographer's name on the back is Wilson Groat, Church Hill Place.
Am including this one - a 'novelty'!
From time to time Italian ships would dock at Leith & the Italian community would always entertain the officers & crew. This one is taken on board the 'Amerigo Vespucci' which visited quite a few times.
In the picture is Rena Valente on the left. Don't know who is next to her, then a crew member & my sister on the right. I remember Toni's dress so well - I used to love that one. It was navy & white stripes & she wore a sort of mother-of-pearl 'sharks tooth' necklace with it. I thought she looked so beautiful! (But then she was beautiful!).
