In 2010, on the 70th anniversary of the tragedy, we established the first National Memorial for Wales...
...For more information, please start on ‘Press Release & Stories’.
Important message from the Arandora Star Memorial Fund in Wales Committee (January 2012)...
We formed our committee in 2008 and, thanks to our many supporters, we achieved all our major goals! This includes, of course, installing the Arandora Star National Memorial on the 70th anniversary of the tragedy, July 2nd, 2010.
Support came in so many different forms, including very significant funding from individuals and organisations in Wales and Italy, not least from the National Lottery in Wales.
Hundreds of DVDs of the memorial installation ceremony were produced! Our commemoration booklet (which can still be downloaded on this Website) went into a second print-run because of demand!
In 2011, we moved on to curate several successful 'road show' exhibitions, with accompanying events, ending with an extended exhibition in our National Waterfront Museum in Swansea. 'Wales Breaks its Silence….' gave thousands the opportunity to learn all about the huge contribution made by Italians to Welsh life, and how the tragedy affected Italians and Welsh people alike.
If you've been a regular visitor to this Website, you'll also know that our valuable collaboration with a Welsh theatre company, Theatr Na n'Og, resulted in over 5,000 school children and hundreds of adults seeing the 'Arandora Star' play! The theatre’s writers and director were advised and supported by our committee. The theatre produced a 'multi-media DVD' about the tragedy, which also included interactive lessons on the history of World War 2, as well as filmed interviews with writers, our committee's consultant, director, cast and crew - all who all created and performed the wonderfully moving, and sometimes humorous, play.
Theatr Na n'Og have taken the play to other parts of the U.K. The play may even be filmed, which will mean many, many more people will learn about the history of the Welsh-Italians and specifically the tragedy of the sinking of the Arandora Star.
The committee has always said that this Website is an integral part of the national memorial - a 'virtual' memorial, archiving personal stories from families and friends of the men who died, and survived, the tragedy. The site has also been our notice board about events/exhibitions, and a contact point for anyone who has something to share about the tragedy or the contribution Welsh-Italians still make to Welsh life. Indeed, the National Library of Wales has taken a snapshot of our Website to archive for posterity, and Wales' National History Museum ('St Fagans') has digitally-archived material created, produced and received by the committee since 2008.
It's not quite over for us yet…
Although the Arandora Star Memorial Fund in Wales Committee held its last official meeting in January, 2012, we will maintain this Website until January 2015. During this time, we'll gladly accept more material from our visitors (please see the contact details at the top of this page, and the editor's email address at the bottom). When we close the site, all information and images contained in it will be offered to the National Library of Wales to complete their archive of our site.
The success of the Memorial Fund is because of you, and others like you, who have discovered more about the tragedy, and have put their hands in their pockets to help create a lasting memorial to the victims and survivors of the Arandora Star, in furtherance of peace and reconciliation amongst people.
Deep from within our hearts, we say to everyone… Diolch yn fawr iawn,
Mille Grazie,
Thank you very much!
