The British Pathé video above depicts the impact of Italian culture in London. Unfortunately, an equivalent for the South Coast does not exist, mainly because similar instances were not recorded at the time. However, there are substantial similarities, the effects of which can still be seen today. This is mainly due to the commercial success of Italy combined with the determination of many Italian migrants to create a settled life in England.
Source for both: British Newspaper Archives
Images © Johnston Press plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
RIGHT: “Habit Changes”, Portsmouth Evening News, Wednesday 15 September 1954 (page 12)
BELOW: “For Sale: Coffee Making”, Eastbourne Gazette, Wednesday 10 November 1954 (page 23)
The above extracts provide further support for Colpi's idea of "selling" Italianness. Cultural changes and trends in cities slowly trickled down into smaller towns, including those along the South Coast, with the passages above suggesting that this was also a subject of popular discussion in the local press. In "Habit Changes", coffee is described as a "rival" to afternoon tea, whilst the coffee machine for sale in the second clipping, probably intended for business use, was hailed as "revolutionary" with a "demonstration" provided upon request. Not everyone would have been able to try these new food outlets, but it is evident that assertions of Italianness and the presence of larger Italian communities had been noticed.
'ITALIANNESS' AND BELONGING
*Italianness: A term used to describe the qualities or characteristics associated with what it means to be Italian.
*Transnational: Something which extends beyond the boundaries of one, single nation.
Not unrelated to the concept of 'invisible migrants', ideas of 'Italianness' are also key in trying to understand the post-war migrant experience on the South Coast. Italianness is as much a feeling as something to take part in, a way of making sense of what it is to be Italian in another country. For some respondents, reinforcing their Italian identity helped them to cope with moving away from home and facing the possibility of not being able to return for a long time, if ever. In addition, for a few individuals, the need to reaffirm a positive sense of Italianness was also important in overcoming the legacy of the tensions between British and Italian communities during the interwar years and the Second World War.
Annual visits to Brookwood Cemetery and commemoration of wartime events, such as the sinking of the SS Arandora Star, are still as much a feature of the calendar for some Italians on the South Coast as their yearly trips to Italy, not only to remember those who were killed in the War but to join other Italians from all over the country in sharing experiences, no matter how painful. In turn, this has fostered feelings of togetherness, in addition to maintaining a connection with Italy.
According to historian Terri Colpi, Italian migrants who arrived in the immediate post-War years took advantage of the growing interest in Italian culture to deal with these difficulties and "sold Italianness", opening their own businesses and promoting new ideas to their customers.[1] One of the most notable commercial ventures undertaken was the establishment of various eateries, including coffee bars, ice-cream parlours, and restaurants. Growing acceptance of these outlets allowed the owners to make a living and serve other Italians, but also gave many the opportunity to feel a greater sense of belonging in England.
Connections between self, family, and ideas of home have also extended beyond the so-called first generations to the descendants of migrants who, themselves, have created their own hybrid identities. They, too, have taken responsibility for maintaining transnational* connections with each other in the same way the older generations did before them. This has been aided by the availability of new technologies such as mobile phones, satellite television and, more recently, the internet.
[1] Terri Colpi. The Italian Factor: The Italian Community in Great Britain. Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing Company Ltd., 1991, page 140.
The extract below is a genuine example of a recipe featured in the Portsmouth Evening News in 1955, a practise which was becoming increasingly common as Italian food outlets became more and more popular. Described as "...a thin, thin version of spaghetti cooked with “fruits of the sea”…”, it was promoted as a more exciting alternative to macaroni cheese...
Vermicelli ai frutti di mare
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1 large onion
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2 or 3 shallots
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2 tablespoons olive oil
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1 ounce margarine
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1 pound peeled tomatoes
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1 teaspoonful dried tarragon
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Salt and pepper
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4 ounces picked prawns
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½ pound crab meat
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½ pound vermicelli
Fry the finely chopped onion and shallots in the oil and margarine until they are tender. Add the chopped tomatoes, tarragon and seasoning and simmer gently for 45 minutes. Add the prawns and crab meat and continue cooking [for] ten minutes. Meanwhile, cook the vermicelli until just tender in boiling salted water. Drain and steam for two or three minutes over hot water. Arrange on a hot dish and cover with the sauce.
ABOVE: Extract from "Many Ways With Pasta", Portsmouth Evening News, Friday February 4 1955, page 6.
Source: British Newspaper Archives
Image © Johnston Press plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
Italy in London (1952). Source: British Pathé.