| Montrose, Scotland - 3 |
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| Maestra |
| This, albeit rather unclear picture, shows the joy on the faces of the children on their arrival to Montrose station. |
| Montrose Basque Children's Colony |
| This picture was taken in 1985 when the group of children re-visited Montrose. The colony in Mall Park Road was the most northern Basque colony in Great Britain and was sponsored by the Dundee Breakfast Union. Mr D Chapman was the Secretary of the Committee of Basque Children at Mall Park and Miss M Wilson was director of the centre, in charge of the 25 to 30 children. Miss Wilson was well-known to Montrose. She had red hair and was a protestant missionary. Much re-building of the area has occured since 1937 and the children all remember, that to the left was a park from where the house got its name; Mall Park. The grey house on the extreme left was absent in 1937, and was indeed, part of the park grounds. |
| 1. Julio Larrondo, 2. Encarnacion Benavente, 3. Benedicta Gonzalez, 4. Francisca Gonzalez, 5. Jesusa Lucas, 6. ? , 7. Enrique Mollinedo , 8. ?, 9. ?, 11. Jose Perez o Victor Anduiza, 12. ? , 13. ? , 14. ? , 15. ? , 16. ? , 17. Josefina Gonzalez, 18. Maria Blanco (Auxiliar from San Sebastian), 19. Miss Kinni Inglesa (Helper in the colony), 20. Miss M. Wilson (Director of the colony), 21. Adelina Larraga (Teacher at the colony), 22. Amelia Huertas (Daughter of Adelina Larraga), 23. Maria Huertas (Daughter of Adelina Larraga), 24. Fernando Mollinedo, 25 Paquita ? , 26. Esther Benavente, 27. Alicia Gil, 28. Lola Mollinedo, 29. Pilar Huertas (Daughter of Adelina Larraga), 30. ? , 31. Basilio Redondo, 32. Abastasio Gil, 33. Josefina Lucas, 34. ? , 35. Elia Redondo, 36. ? . We thank Bene Gonzalez from Bilbao in providing us with the names of the children and also much material which has enabled us to put this page together. We have more material which is kept as archive material by the BC37A:UK. |
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| Adelina Larraga. Adelina Larraga came on the SS Habana with the children. Her three daughter, Pilar, Amelia and Maria also stayed at Mall Park House. |
| Montrose Revisited |
The kindness shown by Montrose to a group of Basque children fleeing the Spanish Civil War almost half a century ago was recalled at a civic reception in the Town House on Saturday. Mrs Bene Gonzalez, who celebrated her 15th birthday on the day she and other children... arrived at Montrose...in 1937, remembered...group had lived "immensely happily and joyfully"... But with passing years, the refugees had forgotten about each other and the local boy "Carlos" McNeil who had befriended them and taken part in their concerts to raise money to help meet the weekly provisions bill. As tokens of their appreciation for their happy stay 48 years ago, the former refugees presented a silver plaque from Bilbao and a silver salver from the Provincial Deputation of Biscay. The presentation were made by Mrs Gonzales and Mrs Elia Redonda who asked that the gifts remain in Montrose, possibly display in the library of museum... his part article hails from 'The Sunday Post' of Montrose and was printed in 21 July, 1985. |
| A group photograph with Adelin Larraga and Miss M Wilson in the middle. |
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| "Estoy muy agradecida a ese pueblo que nos acogioa todos" Encarnacion Benavente (Nina Basque) |
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| Climaxing a week's intensive effort for Spain and China, a party of Dundee workers and guarantors visited Mall Park Home, Montrose, where a large number of Basque children are being cared for. Here you see venerable Dr. Buist, Dundee, handing over gifts of fruit to some of the Spanish girls at the home. Every refugee received presents of crackers, fruit, sweets and so on. |
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| In July 1985, a large group of ex-residence from the Montrose colony, revisited the city and were welcomed by the Provost Andrew Welsh. Part of the group are here in the photograph at the rear of Mall Park House. |
| Top row from left: Julio Larrondo, Begona (wife of Julio - non evacuee), Basilio Redondo, Wife of Basilio (non-evacuee), Francisca Gonzalez (Sister of Bene Gonzalez), Charles (A loyal and enthusiastic Scottish helper at the colony). Front row from the left: Benedicta Gonzalez, Anastasio Gil and Lola Mollinedo. |
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