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"The
Work of Cav. Romeo Di Girolamo PRBA", |
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page 2 |
back to the Journey | |||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |||
| "Local
Face", an
article taken from Wendover
News, April 1998 edition, by Jane Larkham, Editor |
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"...at the age of thirteen
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Romeo emigrated
from Italy at the age of nine. He came to England with
his mother and stepfather who had been a prisoner of war in Buckinghamshire.
He left the strong light and bright colours of the Apennines for the grey
mists and rounded hills of Quainton. Italy was suffering economic
disaster at the end of the Second World War. England promised work
and prosperity for those willing to brave the hostility and stigma of being
branded "the enemy". In Italy Romeo was a highly academical
pupil. but in England he was forced to suffer the humiliation of sitting
the eleven plus examination with not enough understanding of the language
in which it was written to recognise where to write his name. Leaving
his grandfather, who had cared for him since his father died, was the hardest
part of all. He died before Romeo could return to share his success. Befriended by the Headmaster of Quainton School (who made him headboy, then stripped him of the title the next day for being caught scrumping apples) he was encouraged to draw and paint. Mr. Lawes entered his work for the county architectural drawing prize. The work brought first prize, and Romeo won the event again on another occasion. Eventually curious to meet this unknown schoolboy who consistently beat all the students at the Junior Art School in this competition, the Head of High Wycombe Art College visited the sleepy hillside village of Quainton to offer this foreigner a place. |
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