This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jun/20/giordano-diaz-lombardero-obituary
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Giordano Díaz Lombardero obituary | Giordano Díaz Lombardero obituary |
| (7 months later) | |
| Alvin Díaz | |
| Tue 20 Jun 2017 17.57 BST | |
| Last modified on Mon 27 Nov 2017 21.32 GMT | |
| Share on Facebook | |
| Share on Twitter | |
| Share via Email | |
| View more sharing options | |
| Share on LinkedIn | |
| Share on Pinterest | |
| Share on Google+ | |
| Share on WhatsApp | |
| Share on Messenger | |
| Close | |
| My uncle Giordano Díaz Lombardero, who was one of the “niños vascos” (“Basque children”) evacuated to Britain during the Spanish civil war, has died aged 93. | My uncle Giordano Díaz Lombardero, who was one of the “niños vascos” (“Basque children”) evacuated to Britain during the Spanish civil war, has died aged 93. |
| He was born near Bilbao, the younger son of Alberto Díaz Chapartegui and his wife, Josefa Lombardero Moreira. His mother died when he was three and he and his elder brother were brought up by their paternal grandparents while their father took a job in a steelworks. | He was born near Bilbao, the younger son of Alberto Díaz Chapartegui and his wife, Josefa Lombardero Moreira. His mother died when he was three and he and his elder brother were brought up by their paternal grandparents while their father took a job in a steelworks. |
| In 1936, the Spanish civil war broke out; schools were closed and 13-year-old Giordano’s main task was to find food for the family. When their house was requisitioned for use as a munitions factory, the family moved to a new apartment by the river. One day, he noticed boats carrying wounded people; he later realised they were victims of the attack on Guernica. | In 1936, the Spanish civil war broke out; schools were closed and 13-year-old Giordano’s main task was to find food for the family. When their house was requisitioned for use as a munitions factory, the family moved to a new apartment by the river. One day, he noticed boats carrying wounded people; he later realised they were victims of the attack on Guernica. |
| The following year, the Basque government evacuated 4,000 children to Britain. The brothers, together with two cousins, sailed to Southampton, staying under canvas at North Stoneham, Hampshire before going on to a colonia near Huddersfield; the colonias were a network of homes across the country set up by communities sympathetic to the refugees, funded by public subscriptions and trade unions. | The following year, the Basque government evacuated 4,000 children to Britain. The brothers, together with two cousins, sailed to Southampton, staying under canvas at North Stoneham, Hampshire before going on to a colonia near Huddersfield; the colonias were a network of homes across the country set up by communities sympathetic to the refugees, funded by public subscriptions and trade unions. |
| When repatriation started, the brothers were unable to return to Bilbao as their father had gone into exile in Venezuela, and they did not see him again until 1950. Giordano went to school in Huddersfield, leaving at 14, then worked in an import/export business. During the second world war he was an apprentice mechanic in Hampshire while studying for his matriculation certificate, which he gained in 1945. | When repatriation started, the brothers were unable to return to Bilbao as their father had gone into exile in Venezuela, and they did not see him again until 1950. Giordano went to school in Huddersfield, leaving at 14, then worked in an import/export business. During the second world war he was an apprentice mechanic in Hampshire while studying for his matriculation certificate, which he gained in 1945. |
| During the war, Giordano would meet other niños vascos at the Hogar Español (Spanish home), a meeting place for Spanish exiles in London. Writing for the Basque children’s newsletter Amistad (Friendship), he always concluded with a tone of enthusiastic rhetoric and youthful optimism. | During the war, Giordano would meet other niños vascos at the Hogar Español (Spanish home), a meeting place for Spanish exiles in London. Writing for the Basque children’s newsletter Amistad (Friendship), he always concluded with a tone of enthusiastic rhetoric and youthful optimism. |
| After the war he was an electrician at the Royal Mint in London until it moved to south Wales in 1967. He then he worked at St Thomas’ hospital until he retired. He had enrolled with the Open University upon its inception in 1969, studying an eclectic range of subjects for his BA. | After the war he was an electrician at the Royal Mint in London until it moved to south Wales in 1967. He then he worked at St Thomas’ hospital until he retired. He had enrolled with the Open University upon its inception in 1969, studying an eclectic range of subjects for his BA. |
| In 1959 he married Iffat Rafat Siddiqi, a scientific officer at the Royal Free hospital; they had met at the end of the 1940s when she was a student. She died in 2007 and Giordano continued living in Blackheath, south London, where they had settled, until 2016, when he moved into a care home in Lewisham. | In 1959 he married Iffat Rafat Siddiqi, a scientific officer at the Royal Free hospital; they had met at the end of the 1940s when she was a student. She died in 2007 and Giordano continued living in Blackheath, south London, where they had settled, until 2016, when he moved into a care home in Lewisham. |
| In keeping with his altruistic view of life, he left his body for medical research. | In keeping with his altruistic view of life, he left his body for medical research. |
| Giordano liked living in Britain, though he spoke wistfully of never being considered British by the British, or Spanish in Spain, and found this loss of identity difficult to bear. | Giordano liked living in Britain, though he spoke wistfully of never being considered British by the British, or Spanish in Spain, and found this loss of identity difficult to bear. |
| He is survived by me and his niece, and four great-nephews. | He is survived by me and his niece, and four great-nephews. |
| Spain | |
| Other lives | |
| London | |
| Second world war | |
| obituaries | |
| Share on Facebook | |
| Share on Twitter | |
| Share via Email | |
| Share on LinkedIn | |
| Share on Pinterest | |
| Share on Google+ | |
| Share on WhatsApp | |
| Share on Messenger | |
| Reuse this content |