BCA'37 UK - The Association for the UK Basque Children

80th Anniversary News, Notices & Events

This year is the 80th anniversary of the arrival of the SS Habana and its 4,000 children passengers.

We are involved with a series of public events around the UK and in the Basque Country; these are listed below. Details and new events will be added as we receive them so please check the web for full details nearer the proposed date.

Do let us know of other events relating to the Basque niños by emailing: secretary@basquechildren.org

28th August - DUNDEE

NEW

Exhibition by BCA'37 of the evacuation of the Basque Children to Britain in 1937 with special reference to the colony at Montrose - Dundee Central Library, The Wellgate, Dundee DD11 1DB

Opening event:
    5.00pm — Viewing
    5.30-6.30pm — Screening of
'The Guernica Children', followed by a Q&A session with Carmen Kilner.

More details here.

28th August - 11th September - DUNDEE

Exhibition by BCA'37 of the evacuation of the Basque Children to Britain in 1937 with special reference to the colony at Montrose - Dundee Central Library, The Wellgate, Dundee DD11 1DB

The exhibition will be available to view at normal library opening hours.

More details here.

31st July - 23rd August - BRIGHTON

University of Brighton Gallery, 58-67 Grand Parade, Brighton, BN2 0JY

"Guernica Remakings". An exhibition exploring the ongoing power of Pablo Picasso's iconic painting Guernica (1937) through a display of contemporary reworkings.

More details here.

18th June - 24th September - SALFORD (Greater Manchester)

Exhibition In Search of the Basque Children in Salford and Eccles - Ordsall Hall, 322 Ordsall Lane, Ordsall, Salford M5 3AN

Salford based artist Claire Hignett has been researching a group of Basque children evacuated from the Spanish Civil War who came to Salford and Eccles in 1937.
Finding stories in old newspapers and talking to people who still remember them, she creates this exhibition to tell this hidden story.
More details …

• Report by Simon Martinez on the exhibition
• A report by Barbara Coombs on the talk at this event

7th October - MONTROSE

Concert with na-mara,laying flowers at existing plaque, BCA'37 exhibition and stall.

(More details nearer the time)

9th October - EDINBURGH

Showing of "The Guernica Children", exhibition, talk, Q & A session.

(Still in planning stages - more details nearer the time)

Other News, Notices & Events

NEW

Book Review

We've received a review of John Simmons' Spanish Crossings by Ed Packard. Read it here …

NEW

Obituary published - Giordano Díaz Lombardero

In The Guardian. Read it here …

New Reference Section

If you've not already subscribed to the list for our regular "eNotices", then you can do so here. If you're only recently subscribed, you can catch up on all the previous notices in our new reference section here.
See it in the 'Reference' section in menu to the left of this column.

Annual Meeting

The annual comida of los niños vascos took place on the 28 May.

Ten of the children were joined by ninety family members for an afternoon of conversation, remembering, smiles and a few tears, good food and wine.

Thanks to Luis and Amaya for organising this wonderful event. Thanks to Manuel for organising the raffle which raised £315 for the Basque Children Association. And thank you to the staff of the Melia Hotel who made us so welcome.

Muchas Gracias, Simon Martinez

For other recently posted and older notices, click here.

From the Archives

What happened to the Habana?

[She] remained at Southampton until 29 May when she left for the return passage to Bilbao, once again escorted by the destroyer Fearless …

Read the full article here …

… and an article you may have missed:

"The Blockade of Bilbao"

A talk given by Prof. Michael Alpert at the Marx Memorial Library, 21st June 2008.