In High Blantyre Cemetery there are a couple of very prominent gravestones which feature angels. Pictured, these are the resting places of the Italian Valerio family who came to Blantyre at the turn of the 20th Century. The name will be well known , perhaps because of the association with Mickey’s Cafe or people who […]
It’s with sadness I recently learned of the passing of well known woman, Velma Andreini (nee Valerio). Of course, she will be remembered by most folks in Blantyre for her association with The Cafe de Royale (wee Mickeys Cafe) where so many local people enjoyed delicious ice cream and fizzy ginger. Early Life Velma and […]
What a fantastic amount of interest there was in the recent photos of the Valerio family. Carmen Wood who shared those photos visited Velma last week and read out the names and comments people had written on the page. Velma wants to pass on her good wishes to everyone. Carmen told me, “She could remember […]
Some readers were discussing the Valerio family the other day when I had photos up of the nearby shops. Here’s a great photo of Velma, out the back of the Stonefield Road tenement. I don’t have a date for this photo. With thanks to Carmen Wood.
This next photo read like a real ‘who’s who’ of Blantyre business. Ian Robb of Spittal Farm, Jackie Evans the Bookie, Peter Wilkie of Birdsfield, Davy Scott Ice Cream man of Tony Valerio (Victoria Cafe latterly owned by Bill Skouse), Archie Struthers of Shott Farm and Jock Young mechanic from the garage attached to […]
When the Broadway Cinema opened in 1939, there were small iron railings around the corner of Glasgow Road and Station Road, protecting public from traffic. During the war years, as with most iron railings all over the UK, they were cut and removed for the war effort. (Look at many stone walls in Blantyre, you […]