Farewell to Vincent Tedeschi

Feb 6 2009

DEVELOPER turned author Vincent Tedeschi has died.

Ayr was an adopted home for the 86-year-old, who will return to his native Italy for burial.

Vincent was born in the Basilicata area of Italy in August 1922 where his family ran small businesses.

He left school at the age of 12 to work in the family business.

At 18 he enrolled in the Italian army and was taken prisoner by the British in Egypt and transported to Scotland, where he spent three years in a prisoner of war camp in Stirlingshire.

Repatriated in 1946 he spent a year in Italy before returning to marry his first wife, Olga, the daughter of Italian immigrants, who he met while a prisoner.

He moved to Ayr in 1954 after a few years in business in Glasgow.

He was involved in several businesses, including the Old Dorris Tea Room, where Marks and Spencer is now, and he opened the first Italian restaurant in Ayr, the Albano in Wellington Square.

From there Vincent went into the building industry and ran his own company Tedeschi Property and Development, for many years.

Among his projects was the Iceland store, flats and shops at Hollowpark.

From there he went on to buy the Sandy Beach caravan park in Maidens, which he extensively modernised, providing sewage and electricity for every caravan.

Vincent later married Ayr woman Maureen MacLellan, following the death of his wife Olga.

In his retirement he turned to writing, penning several short stories. These were later translated in English in the book Sprigs of Hawthorn.

Vincent was proud of his Italian roots but often said that he loved Scotland nearly as much.

He was a member of Old St Nicholas Golf Club and as a keen chess player was also a member of Ayr Chess club.

He is survived by his wife Maureen.