Cyprus – Views from Nicosia
1964
By Margaret Sheard
We have come across a video from 1964 of views in the Nicosia area of Cyprus from YouTube which was uploaded by Tommy Nilsson and shared by fellow writer Ismail Veli on Facebook. It brings back many memories of places we have visited when researching some of the many articles we have produced for cyprusscene.com
To recall one in particular was the story I wrote from information given to me by a British ex-serviceman who spent most his National Service in Cyprus during the period 1957/59 and sent me many photographs taken at this time. This prompted trying to retrace some of these areas which led us to Ledra Street, Metaxa Square, Luna Park, very different then to how they are now. To see this article click here.
On another occasion, following Remembrance Day in Kyrenia in November 2013, we took this ex-serviceman and 2 of his comrades, together with a Turkish Cypriot friend who has lived most of his life in the UK, for a visit to the Buffer Zone which was arranged with the help of the UN. This visit included Wayne’s Keep, and what was possibly the site of the ex-servicemen’s old camp, also something which was exciting for all of us was the inclusion of a visit to the old Nicosia International Airport which was quite emotional for our Turkish Cypriot friend, Ismail Veli, who had last been there when he was 16 years old and never thought he would ever set foot on it again. To see the articles about this visit click here and click here.
So the video you can see below is not only very nostalgic from our point of view, it is more importantly some of the history of Cyprus and something which needs to be kept as part of its heritage.
Tommy Nilsson’s Youtube entry
“This video (orginal Double 8-movie) was filmed in Nicosia in May 1964 and show, among others, sequences from Metaxa Square (in 1974 renamed as Eleftheria Square, with Town Hall, Ledra Street, the area around Green Line, Omorphita, check-point Athalassa and finally views from Archbishop Makarios Palace.”
Thank you for this amazing article down memory lane Margaret
It seems Ismail that people like memory lane. In a matter of a couple of hours there have been 90 reads of this article. It proves that sharing with as many places as possible through Facebook and other areas enables maximum coverage. We would like to thank you and others who are helping to achieve this.
All very interesting Margaret especially the Nicosia film, brought back memories seeing those streets.
Glad you liked the article, I guessed you would recognise quite a lot.
Margaret, nice article.
I was 14 and was evacuated with the other Americans on 5 February 1964. I spent about a year and a half on Cyprus and loved it until the natives became restless.
The video does not exist anymore, I would have loved to have seen it. I attended the Junior School and the English School, there was a lot of hate between the Greek and Turkish communities at the English School. What a senseless conflict. Dogs and cats.
The obvious answer to Cyprus is that it should have remained a British Crown Colony and the militant faction be dealt with harshly. I suppose we are too civilised……..and too lenient. That’s what’s wrong with the USA today.
Thank you for your comment. Why can’t people put the past behind them and move forward! If you have any memories and photographs you would like to share we would be pleased to hear from you again and perhaps publish your recollections of Cyprus back in the 1960’s.