SCOTLAND’S DRIVING FORZA
Forza Italia!
Hey…are the Scots-Italians suddenly taking over their adopted nation?
While Scotland prepares for the much-hyped Alex Salmond-led Homecoming 2009, you have to say the Italians who settled here in the 20th Century aren’t in the frame.
Because the ones who came, saw and conquered back in the day, have simply stayed.
The first generation, who for the most part stopped at Greenock, on the way to a new life in the New World and just didn’t go any farther, built their New Jerusalem – or should that be New Genoa? – at this chilly edge of Europe.
The next generation consolidated their parents’ work ethic and became true Scots/Italian.
The present generation – well, they seem to have really taken off in recent years.
As we stand on the edge of 2009, it could well be that Bishop Philip Tartaglia of Paisley becomes the Pope’s main man in Britain. That’s if he can squeeze past Archbishop Mario Conti of Glasgow to get there.
In politics, the Scottish Cabinet includes firebrands Elish Angiolini, Scotland’s Lord Advocate, and Linda Fabiani, Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture and a holder of a Cavaliere, the equivalent of a knighthood in Italy.
In Sport, Scotland’s highest earner is Dario Franchitti, the darling of the American IndyCar circuit and husband to Holywood actress Ashley Judd. And in 2009 he could be passed by Paul Di Resta, tipped as David Coulthard’s successor in F1.
In football, names like Macari, Marinello, Tortolano, Baldacchino and Moscardini have rung like a bell for generations.
Controversial artist Jack Vettriano is among the most famous Scots-Italians.
In Rugby, Scotland field a three-quarter line including Danielli, Di Rollo and Di Luca.
While in the field of entertainment, the names Daniela Nardini, Tom Conti, Paul Coia, Sharleen Spiteri, impressionist Ronni Ancona, Oscar-winner Peter Capaldi, and The Bill’s George Rossi are a huge factor in our daily showbiz diet. Ken Stott’s Sicilian mother reportedly stopped off in Scotland on her way to the United States and never left, while Academy Award winner Anthony Minghella’s, parents were both Scots Italian.
There’s more – Blue Peter girl Romana D’Annunzio, GMTV Hollywood reporter Carla Romano, TV presenter John Amabile, blue-eyed soul hunk Paolo Nutini and comic genius Armando Iannucci. Top record producer Stephen Lironi is also Mr Clare Grogan.
Even Bond theme singer Alicia Keys was raised by her Scottish/Italian mum in New York. And last night on Taggart DI Ross revealed his Italian granddad had died in an internment camp during the war, so he’s really a Rossi.
The Arts? Look no farther than Scotland’s premier painter Jack Vettriano, author Giovanni Pontiero, best-selling author Joe Pieri, sculptor and artist Sir Eduardo Paolozzi and portrait artist Alberto Morrocco OBE. Artist, author and director Richard Demarco OBE is said to have introduced Sean Connery to acting while lecturing at the Edinburgh College of Art, while Mary Contini’s highly acclaimed Dear Francesca is a widely read book about her forefathers coping on arriving in Scotland from Italy.
In music, Salvatore Cleminson was the stable of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band for years, while The Fratellis and Del Amici gave themselves Italian names to be cool. And Nicola Benedetti is undoubtedly Britain’s hottest classical talent.
In terms of business, Scottish Italians have become household names. Rocco Forte’s hotel group has spread worldwide, worth over £350 million, while ice cream makers Di Rollo and Nardini’s ice are a cut above the rest.
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- Domenico Crolla holding the world’s most expensive pizza, the Pizza Royale 007, which was sold at auction for £2,150
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- Sergio Casci’s black comedy, American Cousins, about New York gangsters laying low in Glasgow, was nominated for a BAFTA.
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- Bishop of Paisley Philip Targaglia could be the next Archbishop of Westminster
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- Sir Rocco Forte’s hotel empire is worth over £350 million
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- IndyCar champ Dario Franchitti with his wife, Hollywood actress Ashley Judd
And if you ever get in a spot of bother with the law look no farther than Joe Beltrami. The top Glasgow brief was so infamous that criminals would demand “Get me Beltrami” in an attempt to stay out of prison – he even helped 12 clients to escape the hangman’s noose.
Just this month Domenico Crolla, scion of a family which made their name here as luxury food suppliers, has been made Scottish Restaurateur of the Year.
He said: “I think many immigrants who come to Scotland do so temporarily to make money, learn English, and then go home. But we Italians have really invested in Scotland because it is our home, and we’ve integrated well here.
“The Scots are a very welcoming people, not just to tourists, but to immigrants as well, so there have never been obstacles or barriers for us to overcome. But I also think Italian Scots compete against each other a great deal, that’s why, for example, the quality of Italian food in Scotland is among the highest in the world.”
Although with the sudden influx of Poles and the march of smart Asian entrepreneurs goes on, the Italian familia has been quietly consolidating and expanding its position in our society – arguably we could one day have a Scots Italian First Minister, cardinal, leaders of industry, captains of the national rugby and football teams and number one bands.
Glasgow band The Fratellis gave themselves an Italian name because it sounded cool.
Screenwriter Sergio Casci, whose Bafta-nominated film American Cousins celebrated the Scots-Italian connection, says it is an important part of modern culture: “When you speak to a lot of Scots, especially Scots of a certain age, and ask them where they first met their husbands and wives, chances are they met them in an Italian ice cream shop – In the early 60s, late 50s, that is where young folk used to go.”
Forza Italia? You ain’t seen nothing yet, mamma!
