Newsletter December 2024
Welcome to our December newsletter, which we hope will interest and entertain you over the festive period!
The content includes an update of Trust activities since our last issue in June and fascinating articles from supporters retracing the steps of family members in wartime Italy. We open with an account of the annual luncheon on November 20th, at which the MSMT “family” was present in force to say an emotional thank-you to Sir Nick Young, who steps down as chairman on December 31st.
Our next newsletter will be in June 2025. Meanwhile, we shall be delighted to have your comments and ideas for further MSMT communications.
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John Simkins and David Kettle
Annual lunch
On Wednesday 20th November, a record-breaking 143 supporters of the Trust met at the RAF Club in Piccadilly for the annual lunch. We were to be addressed, for his final time as Chair, by Nick Young, who steps down on December 31st after 20 years in the role.
Trust funds academic thesis
Historian Ruth Murphy explains how she will tackle her post-doctoral thesis on PoWs and their helpers, which is being funded by MSMT as part of our relationship with the University of Cambridge.
Focus on the ordinary soldier
Copies of Anne Copley’s new book, The Girl with a Peach: Courage and Compassion in Wartime Italy, are flying off the shelves.
Student report
During 2024 the Trust welcomed 40 young Italians on study bursaries. David Kettle, Student Co-ordinator and Administrator, reports on a successful programme that elicited much grateful feedback
Celebrations at Mansion House
David Kettle reports on an evening at Mansion House, at the invitation of the Lord Mayor, to celebrate Anglo-Italian Friendship and launch Hugo de Burgh’s novel To the River.
News
Prestigious award for ELMS
Our sister organisation, the Escape Lines Memorial Organisation, has won a major European award.
The 'Ferrovia' Trail 2024
In September a group of walkers commemorated feats of great bravery by trekking along the ‘Ferrovia’ freedom trail used successfully by PoWs and partisans in the La Spezia area. Brian Lett reports.
Research
My uncle's resting place
Closing 20 years of investigation into the murder of his uncle Robert, an escaped PoW fighting with the partisans, Steve Dickinson tells how he was finally able to meet descendants of the family who had sheltered Robert.
September sunshine in Sicily
Trevor Dunn looks back on a delightful, if somewhat confusing, trip to Sicily in an attempt to identify PoW camps where his father Stanley was held.
Rediscovery of "the Casa" near Popoli
Nicholas Mather reports on further stages of his family’s challenging trek to retrace the escape route of Carol Mather in 1943, culminating with discovery of ‘the casa’ where Carol took refuge, with German soldiers under the same roof.
Please tell the Editors, John Simkins and David Kettle, and Design Consultant George Mitchell, what you think about this newsletter.
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Newsletter December 2024
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