• Greek Cypriots Worldwide

Launch of Greek Cypriots in the UK - A Directory of Who’s Who, a star
studded event!

The launch of ‘Greek Cypriots in the UK - A Directory of Who’s Who' took place last Thursday 2nd February 2006 at the prestigious Hellenic Centre in Paddington Street, London.

The Launch of Greek Cypriots in the UK – A Directory of Who’s Who took place Thursday 2nd February 2006 at the Hellenic Centre in Paddington street London.The event proved a huge success with over 600 people attending. Guests were greeted with complimentary glasses of wine and food provided by One Stop Co-ordinations and were able to view photos by the late Andy Nicola as well as the logos of the sponsors projected on a large screen. The evening began with the host actor Peter Polycarpou welcoming the guests and congratulating Cypriot tennis player Marcos Baghdatis on his success of reaching the final of the Australian Open Tournament throughout the evening he made the crowd laugh with his witty humour.

Peter introduced the first speaker Joanne Anthony of Pen Press the publishers of the directory who congratulated the author of the book, Michael Yiakoumi. Archbishop Gregorios of Thyateira & Great Britainalso praised the book and wished the compilers all the best for a future edition. The Cyprus Consul General Mr Nicos Christodoulidesgave a special mention to the authors for their hard work and dedication.”One feels proud when one identifies with a certain community. The directory features at least three generations of Greek Cypriots; the oldest being Mr Sergios Florides who recently celebrated his 103rd birthday.”

Next to speak was special guest Peter Andre.The host introduced the singer by saying ”this man was offered a recording contract live on television, went on to have seven top 5 hits, a platinum and gold album in the UK and he was the first Australian artist to debut at No 1 in the UK.” Followed by a very loud applause from the audience Peter addressed the guests “good evening yia sas, sas agapo poli. First of all thank you for featuring me in this fantastic book, there’s one disappointment though you didn’t put me on the front cover,” he joked. “I’m proud to be Cypriot, everyone knows that and I’m actually building a home in Cyprus right now so that me, my wife and my children can go and stay there a few months every year. My wife is back there by the way,” everyone turned to the upstairs balcony where Jordan seemed to be shying away from the cameras. He concluded “thank you very much, sas sevoume ke sas agapo efcharistoume.”

launch pics

As the press snapped away the host introduced the next speaker former editor of Hello Magazine Maggie Koumi. In her moving speech Maggie spoke about growing up in the UK she advised everyone to talk to their parents and grandparents because “their experience is so interesting it’s unbelievable what you can learn”. Psychologist Linda Papadopoulos followed “I feel overwhelmed to be here tonight”, she said. “As Cypriots I think we know not only about surviving but about adapting and that’s precisely why we’ve gone from everywhere from the Australian Open to revolutionising the airline industry to redeveloping the world of medicine. We have accomplished this because we take pride in our identity. The Directory has bought together not only what we can do as individuals but what we mean as a society. For me a Greek Cypriot is someone who can adapt, someone who is willing to learn, who has pride to themselves and their culture. Thank you so much everybody.”

Peter Polycarpou then introduced “someone we all know very well indeed. A Cypriot who has made our lives a bit easier, he’s the founder of easy jet, easy internet café, easy rent a car, easy cruise Stelios Haji-ioannou via video link up.”Stelios sent the following message: “I was pleasantly surprised when I first saw the book at how many successful Greek Cypriots we have in the UK. I’m someone who was born outside the UK but built my business here. I’m a great believer of people who have the courage to leave their own country and live and work somewhere else. The directory is one of a kind publication and I’m proud to be part of it.” Chief Executive of the Law Society Janet Paraskeva highly praised the publication saying ”We have achieved something great together”.

Lord Andrew Adonis spoke at his amazement of seeing so many Cypriots “I have never seen such a large congregation of Cypriots since I was about 11 standing outside the Greek Church in Camden Town when Archbishop Makarios came in 1975. I am extremely happy to have my father here with me tonight can I give my congratulations to Michael Yiakoumi: I have never met anybody so dedicated than him putting together a collection of a thousand and a bit profiles is a massive undertaking.”

He joked ”I made the biggest mistake of giving Michael my mobile number, I remember my phone going off while I was in the House of Lords.” “All of us here tonight are a great example of just how many successful Cypriots we have in the UK” he concluded.

Mr Kyriacos Tsioupras former editor of Parikiaki and managing director of LGR and co-author of the directory said in his brief speech “going through this book it is like looking in a mirror showing the Greek Cypriot Community, with respect to all those who are mentioned, the real achievers of the Greek Cypriot Community story are mostly the ones that are not in these pages: the fathers, mothers and in many cases the grandparents, who have gone through so many difficulties and so many problems to realise their dream.”

The final speaker Michael Yiakoumi was introduced as a dedicated searcher of Cypriots, he’s co-author of the book and the reason why we are all here this evening. In his speech Michael thanked everybody for attending especially those who had travelled from all over the UK and as far as Cyprus. He presented a bouquet and said a special thank you to Sophie Toumazis who turned this directory from an ordinary book into something great. He also thanked Koulla Anastasi for all her help at the earlier stages of compiling the directory and the family of the late Andy Nicola for allowing them to use his photographs. He concluded “I just want to point out that although I have been given a lot of credit for the book it’s the people in the book that have made this publication possible and hopefully we can go on from here and publish a new edition. Thank you very much for all your support and attendance”. Peter Polycarpou thanked all the speakers and turned to the audience and said ”Im sure in one way and another we have all learnt something more about ourselves. The book is not only about where we come from. Michael you’re responsible for giving us a glimpse of ourselves, a kind of incredible look into our own past and in some ways of our future. Thank you”.

For full reviews go to Press page