The Glasgow care home where residents are learning Italian
in this small group, most are in their late 80s and 90s, many are living with dementia, and all are about to achieve an SQA Level 2 qualification in Italian.
Today is their final lesson and teacher Gloria Lattanzi is a delight, full of energy and laughter, as she leads her students through their workbooks, gently cajoling them into recalling things they have learned over the last 10 weeks.
(Image: Colin Mearns/Newsquest)
She covers Italian geography, history, art and music, peppering her lesson with interesting facts.
'Leonardo da Vinci was a vegetarian,' she informs the room, before a quick quiz tests everyone's knowledge of colours and numbers, and they round off the session by listening to a beautiful Italian song.
'It is a real privilege for me to teach these people, they are so enthusiastic, so full of joy,' beams Gloria. 'And they are good. They have all learned a lot, and remember much of what I have taught them.'
(Image: Colin Mearns/Newsquest)
Activity co-ordinator Shareen Beg explains: 'Our home prioritises dignity, engagement and wellbeing for people living with dementia and this project is part of a wider effort to create stimulating and inclusive activities.
'Some of our residents are native Italian speakers, so we thought it would be good to learn their language.
"Lingo Flamingo, an organisation that specialises in bringing language learning to older adults, have been delivering the sessions and it has been a lot of fun.'
(Image: Colin Mearns/Newsquest)
She adds, smiling: 'We are incredibly proud of them all – it's a pleasure to watch them flourish, step out of their comfort zones and engage with fellow residents. It has been heartwarming and inspiring.'
Agnese Campopiano (Image: Anne Marie McGhie)
Agnese Campopiano was born in Santa Maria Oliveto, a small town north of Naples. She came to Glasgow at the age of 18.
'It was the 1950s and many Italians came to Scotland looking for work,' explains her daughter, Anne Marie McGhie.
'She lived with an aunt and uncle on Woodlands Road. She met my dad, Mario, in Glasgow – he too had left Italy as a teenager. He ran a chip shop on Dumbarton Road and they got married in 1959.'
Agnese with her husband Mario and family Annamaria (Anne Marie), Luciana and Carlo (Image: Anne Marie McGhie)
Both Anne Marie and her sister Luciana were born in St Francis Maternity Hospital, which stood on the site of the current care home. Their brother, Carlo, was born in 1968.
Agnese, who was a home help and retired at 60, in 1995, has been diagnosed with vascular dementia. Her short term memory has been affected, says her daughter.
(Image: Colin Mearns/Newsquest)
'She loves the Italian classes,' she adds, smiling. 'It gives her a lot of joy.'
The lessons have also sparked memories for fellow Father George Gillespie, who worked in Rome for 13 years.
'I did parish work, and spent some time at the Vatican,' he explains. 'I learned a little bit of Italian, not much, but I'm finding these lessons very good.'
(Image: Colin Mearns/Newsquest)
Father Robert Hill moved into St Francis's around 18 months ago. He and his sister Carlyn grew up in Calton,
'I love the classes, they are great fun and we learn a lot,' he says.
(Image: Colin Mearns/Newsquest)
Carlyn adds: 'The classes are a great idea. I know Robert has thoroughly enjoyed being part of it. It gives him a sense of purpose, it's really worthwhile.'
She adds: 'It's fascinating to see how the brain works. He has been diagnosed with a mild cognitive impairment, and often he can find it difficult to make himself understood in English.
"But then he speaks Italian, and all he has learned comes back and it's really quite something.
'It's a challenge, but the teachers are just fantastic and make it a lot of fun.'
Gloria teaches with enthusiasm and joy (Image: Colin Mearns/Newsquest)
Shareen, and fellow activity co-ordinators Davina Rowan and Janet Johny, are organising a special graduation ceremony for the residents.
'It's been a great 10 weeks,' says Shareen, smiling. 'It's been wonderful to hear Agnese speak her native language, and to see the joy the classes bring everyone.
"With hearts full of pride and joy, we will have a party to celebrate their incredible journey.'
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Glasgow Times
11 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
The Glasgow care home where residents are learning Italian
in this small group, most are in their late 80s and 90s, many are living with dementia, and all are about to achieve an SQA Level 2 qualification in Italian. Today is their final lesson and teacher Gloria Lattanzi is a delight, full of energy and laughter, as she leads her students through their workbooks, gently cajoling them into recalling things they have learned over the last 10 weeks. (Image: Colin Mearns/Newsquest) She covers Italian geography, history, art and music, peppering her lesson with interesting facts. 'Leonardo da Vinci was a vegetarian,' she informs the room, before a quick quiz tests everyone's knowledge of colours and numbers, and they round off the session by listening to a beautiful Italian song. 'It is a real privilege for me to teach these people, they are so enthusiastic, so full of joy,' beams Gloria. 'And they are good. They have all learned a lot, and remember much of what I have taught them.' (Image: Colin Mearns/Newsquest) Activity co-ordinator Shareen Beg explains: 'Our home prioritises dignity, engagement and wellbeing for people living with dementia and this project is part of a wider effort to create stimulating and inclusive activities. 'Some of our residents are native Italian speakers, so we thought it would be good to learn their language. "Lingo Flamingo, an organisation that specialises in bringing language learning to older adults, have been delivering the sessions and it has been a lot of fun.' (Image: Colin Mearns/Newsquest) She adds, smiling: 'We are incredibly proud of them all – it's a pleasure to watch them flourish, step out of their comfort zones and engage with fellow residents. It has been heartwarming and inspiring.' Agnese Campopiano (Image: Anne Marie McGhie) Agnese Campopiano was born in Santa Maria Oliveto, a small town north of Naples. She came to Glasgow at the age of 18. 'It was the 1950s and many Italians came to Scotland looking for work,' explains her daughter, Anne Marie McGhie. 'She lived with an aunt and uncle on Woodlands Road. She met my dad, Mario, in Glasgow – he too had left Italy as a teenager. He ran a chip shop on Dumbarton Road and they got married in 1959.' Agnese with her husband Mario and family Annamaria (Anne Marie), Luciana and Carlo (Image: Anne Marie McGhie) Both Anne Marie and her sister Luciana were born in St Francis Maternity Hospital, which stood on the site of the current care home. Their brother, Carlo, was born in 1968. Agnese, who was a home help and retired at 60, in 1995, has been diagnosed with vascular dementia. Her short term memory has been affected, says her daughter. (Image: Colin Mearns/Newsquest) 'She loves the Italian classes,' she adds, smiling. 'It gives her a lot of joy.' The lessons have also sparked memories for fellow Father George Gillespie, who worked in Rome for 13 years. 'I did parish work, and spent some time at the Vatican,' he explains. 'I learned a little bit of Italian, not much, but I'm finding these lessons very good.' (Image: Colin Mearns/Newsquest) Father Robert Hill moved into St Francis's around 18 months ago. He and his sister Carlyn grew up in Calton, 'I love the classes, they are great fun and we learn a lot,' he says. (Image: Colin Mearns/Newsquest) Carlyn adds: 'The classes are a great idea. I know Robert has thoroughly enjoyed being part of it. It gives him a sense of purpose, it's really worthwhile.' She adds: 'It's fascinating to see how the brain works. He has been diagnosed with a mild cognitive impairment, and often he can find it difficult to make himself understood in English. "But then he speaks Italian, and all he has learned comes back and it's really quite something. 'It's a challenge, but the teachers are just fantastic and make it a lot of fun.' Gloria teaches with enthusiasm and joy (Image: Colin Mearns/Newsquest) Shareen, and fellow activity co-ordinators Davina Rowan and Janet Johny, are organising a special graduation ceremony for the residents. 'It's been a great 10 weeks,' says Shareen, smiling. 'It's been wonderful to hear Agnese speak her native language, and to see the joy the classes bring everyone. "With hearts full of pride and joy, we will have a party to celebrate their incredible journey.'
Time Out
a day ago
- Time Out
Central Park's gorgeous Conservatory Garden has reopened after years of construction
For the past three years, tall fences closed off one of the most beautiful parts of Central Park. Now, after three long years of extensive restoration, the spectacular Conservatory Garden is open once again and is in full bloom. The Conservatory Garden is a six-acre formal garden located in the northeastern quadrant of the park known for its peaceful design and historic charm. The garden underwent at $25 million glow-up, the most significant investment in the space since it was built in 1937, the Central Park Conservancy announced this week. Go see it along Fifth Avenue between 104th and 106th Streets in Central Park. The garden's three distinct styles—French, Italian, and English—have attracted many weddings and photoshoots over the years. It's also a beloved spot for New Yorkers looking for a moment of tranquility in the city. Visiting feels like a taking stroll through a European garden without having to buy a plane ticket. In the springtime, peonies and lilacs surge into bloom at the Conservatory Garden. In the fall, look for a bevy of mums among the garden's neatly trimmed hedges. While many of the garden's horticultural elements were addressed in 1983, this restoration focused on the comprehensive renewal of its historic hardscape, such as restoring bluestone pavers, updating stormwater draining, modernizing fountains, installing ramps and realigning paths. This type of restoration work hadn't been done at the garden in nearly 90 years. In addition, staff also replanted the Italian Garden's iconic crabapple allées with disease-resistant trees and repaired the steel pergola. This is a big year for upgrades to Central Park. The long-awaited Davis Center at Harlem Meer is now open. And the historic Delacorte Theater (where Shakespeare in the Park is staged every summer) will soon reopen after reconstruction.
Glasgow Times
a day ago
- Glasgow Times
Call for memories of famous Glasgow building for new book
It's one of many myths circulating about the George Square building, but it's extremely unlikely, according to an author who is writing a book about the city landmark. 'I mean, the Vatican is like a marble quarry, it has so much of it,' says Nina Baker, smiling. 'What we can say, though, is that the grand marble staircase inside the building has around four times as much marble as the famous 'holy stairs' in the Vatican. 'There are well over 100 steps in the City Chambers, and only about 26 steps in La Scala Sancta – so that claim is certainly true.' (Image: Newsquest) Nina, who was a councillor in Glasgow from around 2007 to 2017, is researching the history of the City Chambers for her latest book and she is hoping Glasgow Times readers can help. 'I have lots of people willing to tell me about the goings-on inside the building, but what I'm looking for are stories about the building itself,' she says, wryly. 'I'm looking for the oldest 'living memories' I can find from visitors or people who worked there. 'I'd love to talk to the workies, the people behind the scenes who might have been involved in putting in electrics or boilers, for example, or the steeplejacks who cleaned the stonework in the 90s – what tales can they tell me about the place?' (Image: Gordon Terris/Newsquest) She adds: 'I'm also collecting the myths and legends, what Glaswegians believe about the building, which may or may not be true.' The City Chambers were designed by Paisley-born, London-based architect William Young, who won a competition organised by the city. A public holiday was declared on October 6, 1883, for the laying of the foundation stone. Around 600,000 people watched a trades' march of skilled workers from the city's heavy industries as Lord Provost John Ure did the honours. (Image: Glasgow City Archives) In August 1888, the topmost stone - the apex of the central tower - was installed, and Queen Victoria performed the inauguration ceremony. In 1889, a 10-day public viewing attracted 400,000 people. The pediment above the main entrance shows Queen Victoria enthroned and surrounded by figures of Scotland, Ireland and Wales receiving homage and congratulations of her subjects from all parts of the world. (The original proposal was to illustrate the Clyde and the city's manufacturing going to all parts of the world, but it was changed to mark the Queen's jubilee in 1887.) Above the pediment are statues representing Truth, Riches and Honour. At the very top, Truth is known by some as Glasgow's Statue of Liberty because it bears more than a passing resemblance to the famous New York lady. The building's beautiful Banqueting Hall includes murals by several famous Glasgow Boys, depicting Glasgow's past, present and future. These are lit by huge electric chandeliers, which are winched down annually for cleaning. Nina's fascination with the building began almost by accident. 'I discovered by chance that there are tunnels beneath the old building, which connect it underground to the 'new' bit, which was built in 1913,' she explains. 'These were used as archive stores, coal and ash stores, and it was fascinating to have a nosey around.' (Image: Newsquest) Upstairs, there is an old members' library, full of fascinating books preserved in glass cases. 'When the library moved to the Mitchell, doubles of the books were made to ensure the shelves in this lovely room were populated,' says Nina. 'In one of the cupboards, there were enormous leatherbound books, about a metre high, which were the city scrapbooks. 'Those are fascinating – they are full of records like seating plans and menus from city events.' Asking Nina for her favourite spot in the whole building is 'too difficult a question,' she says, with a laugh. 'Although standing at the bottom of the marble staircase looking up is hard to beat,' she says. 'In the 10 years I was a councillor, every single time I walked into the building, I thought – what a privilege to work here. It really is an amazing place.' Can you help Nina by sharing your stories about Glasgow City Chambers? Email or write to Ann Fotheringham, Glasgow Times, 125 Fullarton Drive, Glasgow G32 8FG.
