My father was born on the 2nd May 1920 in Rimmini Italy. When he was three years of age his Mother died aged only 26. He lived with his Grandma for a while until he was sent to college at the age of seven.

He stayed at college until he was 18 years of age when he then was sent to fight in the navy as war had just broken out. The same year that he had entered the navy the ship that he was on was torpedoed. He was one of only a handful of survivors off the ship and was picked up after a long time in the sea by a British submarine. He never saw any of his mates off the ship ever again.

As a prisoner of war he was first taken to Africa then India then onto England. He was a prisoner of war for six years. When he came to England in 1945 he was sent to a camp which was supplied with food from my Granddads farm on Wistow Lordship just outside Selby. My Grandfather had a contract to the prisoner of war camp to supply pigs. It was on a few visits that my Mother met my Father when he came to pick up the produce.

In 1946 my Father went back to Italy as the war had ended and no work was around as everyone was coming back from the war. He went to work in France in a chemical works but promised he would return back to England for my Mother.

My Mother had gone into the army as my father was sent back to Italy. In 1948 when my Mother was demobbed my Father returned as promised where he stayed at my Grandfathers farm. He could only stay for so long then he had to go back to France. My Mother said that the day they stood at the railway station they didn't know if they would ever see each other a gain. My father couldn't let this happen so he went to the British Consulate and asked for permission to stay and seek my Mothers hand in marriage.

They let him do this but he had to work on the farm for so long before this could happen. He worked on the farm for 4 years in Cawood, met another Italian man and became friends. They got lodgings in Cawood and worked on farms around the village. My Mother and Father were married on April 9th 1949. They had two little girl's in the next couple of years.  Susan Giacani and Maria Jane Giacani ( Maria Jane Rayner ) He worked for a few years on the farm before moving on to work at Sturges Chemicals, The Dye works, Cochrane Shipyard, Rostrons then finally as a bus driver.

I was born on the 24th January 1968 in Fulford just outside the City of York. My Mother and Father were married for 54 years.

He passed away on the 18th April 2003 aged 82 years after battling with Alzheimer's Disease. As my Mother says "he was the nicest most loving man I had ever met. He loved his children so much"

As his son I could not of wished for a better Father anywhere. He was so kind and loving and nothing was ever to much trouble. He loved his music and opera but most of all it was his family that he loved more than anything. He was greatly affected along with my Mother and the rest of the family with the loss of their daughter to a tragic car accident. Susan Giacani my sister was walking home one night from the town centre when a car veered onto the footpath killing her. He loved both of his children and was heart broken by family events. He was always talking about how proud he was of his children. I for one of those children am proud to say that he was and always will be my Father. A Father who I will never forget and was lucky to of been part of his life. I just wish I could of had more time with him as I was born late on when my Father was 50 years of age.

We miss you so much. Lots of love always.

From your ever loving Son Rico and Edna, forever in our hearts  XXXXXXX