When Giovanni arrived in Edinburgh in the 1970s from the little Italian town of Castelfranco, he already knew at least a dozen people there: friends, relatives, neighbours from back home. They found him work and somewhere to stay, eventually helped him buy a newsagent's shop.
He worked hard, the shop went from strength to strength, the heart of the community. But Giovanni was always just 'the Italian with the newsagent's corner shop'. Never 'one of us'.
Then one day he dropped down dead. The shop closed, and suddenly the locals realised that without Giovanni there was no community at all.
He worked hard, the shop went from strength to strength, the heart of the community. But Giovanni was always just 'the Italian with the newsagent's corner shop'. Never 'one of us'.
Then one day he dropped down dead. The shop closed, and suddenly the locals realised that without Giovanni there was no community at all.
