A Word From Our President
The club has been at the heart of the Greenock Italian Community for as long as I can remember. In the past we met regularly at dances and family days out. The club premises at 29 Union Street have been our home for the last 40 years. Originally formed in 1974 the Club’s purpose was to promote and preserve the Italian culture and way of life for those who had now made Sc
otland their home. Our Fathers and Grandfathers would finish up after a long day’s work and arrive at the club to enjoy each other’s company and some Italian fayre into the wee small hours. Up until this point meetings had taken place in people’s homes. A local Italian allowed the use of a building at the rear of his property to be used as the first formal club, this was behind what is now the Cathay Royale Chinese Restaurant in West Blackhall Street. When this building was sold in the early 1970’s the Union Street premises were purchased a few years later by the members. The Club continues to this day in Union Street and has seen a few face lifts in its time. As a youngster the Italian club was the place I would meet my friends, family and members of the Italian community. We had a football team, golfers, pool and darts players amongst us and there was always something going on at the Club almost every day of the week. I have many fond memories of these days as I’m sure others do too. In recent years there has been a decline in membership and also events and this is in part due to changes in society and the Italian influence becoming more diluted through the generations. I am passionate about the Club and all it stands for and I am appealing now to like-minded people to help us to preserve the Club for you, your children and future generations. Our first step is this Facebook site and I would encourage all to share and like so that we can get the publicity we need to start to build and develop this club to fit in with modern society and meet the needs of an everchanging membership. If anyone has any old photos or memories they would like to share about the Club please feel free to do so on this page. Thanks for reading and sharing! Gerry Tamburini
Club President
