In memory of Arthur Ugo Cimatti

photo_of_arthur_cimattiThe Cimatti name was well known in Llandudno for most of the 20th century, writes Adrian Hughes. After leaving the Italian Navy, where he was a signaller, Ugo Cimatti (Arthur's father) came to Britain aged 23 and learned the hotel trade in London. After moving to Llandudno in 1904 he worked at hotels in the town. He was head waiter at the Imperial Hotel for over 12 years. He also opened a grocery store in the market hall. The business expanded and his shops sold not only to the public but also the hotels and town’s boarding houses.

He married and had four children: Tom, Arthur, Clara and Alice. Arthur was the youngest son and attended John Bright School. He was a keen angler, like his father, and an active member of Llandudno Sea Scouts and Llandudno Operatic Society.

Arthur and Tom both joined the local battery of the Territorial Army in the mid-1930s and were mobilised on 1 September 1939, a couple of days before the Second World War began. After training in England they went to France in 1940 as part of the British Expeditionary Force but retreated to Dunkirk at the end of May 1940 and waited on the beaches for evacuation.  Tom, a dispatch rider, made it back to Britain but Arthur was killed by shrapnel while digging a trench, three days after his elder brother had been rescued.  He was 30 years old.

His commanding officer visited his parents and paid a glowing tribute to him, saying: “He was the life of our unit. When we were on a tiring march he was always breaking into song and cheering our weary men. You have every reason to be proud of him.”

Tom Cimatti survived the war and returned to Llandudno to help run the family business. Ugo died in 1949. Alice Cimatti was a stalwart of the Llandudno Pier Company and worked there for over 50 years. Clara worked for the Royal Red coach company.

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