Eren Erdogan and my old homes in Nicosia history

Readers mail…
From Eren Erdogan…

I recently shared with CyprusScene readers a memory when I visited my family home in Nicosia some years ago and I thought you may like to read more of our family homes and itheir place in Cyprus History.

My father bought this small house in 1962 after being transferred from the Governor’s House, which Archbishop Makarios occupied following Governor H Foot’s departure in 1960- 61.

Cyprus was changing

A Greek Cypriot friend informed my dad that Makarios sought trusted Greek Cypriot staff at the presidential palace due to anticipated unrest and previous assassination attempts on his life.

In the first year after transfer, my father became supervisor at the Nicosia botanical gardens, located opposite the Nicosia hospital. Next to the gardens was a research center where tests were conducted on rats in cages.

We later moved to Tanzimat Street, also known as Victoria Street, in the Arabahmet area, where many Armenian neighbours resided, speaking better Turkish than we did. However, after the 1963 troubles, they relocated to the south Nicosia of the Green Line, created by the British to divide Nicosia.

Cyprus gained independence from the UK in August 1960, but by 1963, tensions between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders escalated due to disagreements over the constitution, with Greek Cypriots arguing that Turkish Cypriots had excessive rights.

Mrs Foot in the Governers house with our dad

The Archibalds with Eren, David, Robert Margaret, Joyce and our house

The Green Line was created on December 30, 1963, by Major Michael Perrett-Young, who used green chinagraphs to mark the cease-fire line due to its neutrality, as it was not associated with either the Greek or Turkish flags, and its traditional use for marking obstacles or no-go areas.

I hope this historical context provides valuable background information for you to share which is a truthful childhood memory of the past with your readers.

Regards

Eren

PS: If you would like to read more of the past, you may enjoy the account of our childhood by my elder brother Serman Erdogan and how he traced our childhood friend Margaret Archibald in the CyprusScene article:

Cyprus – Childhood Memories in the British Governors House, 1957-1962

Whilst not completly Cyprus History please do read more of my adventures in Cyprus before making a new life in Australia:

A New Life. A New Homeland In Australia and Goodbye Cyprus

If you want more of our family memories please click below:

erdoganfamily2