The Corfu Heritage Foundation deeply regrets the passing of our beloved Chairman, Count Spiro Flamburiari. Our Chairman was a charismatic leader, a guide to humanity and a source of benefaction.
The funeral service of the late Spiro Flamburiari (1930-2023) will take place on Tuesday, 19th December 2023, at 12pm at Saint Sophia’s Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Moscow Road, London W2 4LQ.
The committal will follow at 2pm at Gunnersbury Cemetery, 143 Gunnersbury Avenue, London W3 8LE.
Those who wish to make a donation in his memory could refer to the Kapodistrias Philharmonic Association, 13 Agion Pateron Street, Corfu, GR 49100, +30 26610 33990, filkapod@otenet.gr, IBAN: GR900140681002002012574.
With our deepest appreciation,
The Corfu Heritage Foundation
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Corfu, 5 December 2023
Resolution on the passing of the Corfu patriot Spiro Flamburiari, Chairman of the “Corfu Heritage Foundation”
The Board of Directors of the “Kapodistrias” Philharmonic Association of Corfu convened expressly today, Tuesday, 5 December 2023, following the sad news of the passing of the Corfu patriot Spiro Flamburiari, President of the “Corfu Heritage Foundation”, and unanimously decided the following:
1. To express sincere and warm condolences to the family and associates of the deceased.
2. The “Kapodistrias” F.A.C. flag should be flown at half mast for three days as a sign of mourning.
3. The “Kapodistrias” F.A.C. Board of Directors should be present at the funeral procession.
4. The “Kapodistrias” F.A.C. Music Corps should accompany the interment.
5. To present a wreath at the funeral service.
6. To publish the present resolution in the local press.
Spiro Flamburiari, a native of Corfu, leaves an indelible mark on the history of the “Kapodistrias” Philharmonic Association of Corfu. With his generous and emblematic attitude, he provided for its development, opening new horizons for the future.
The varied activity of Spiro Flamburiari is reflected in his role as a man of the world with cultural interests and dedication to benevolence. His beneficial works are not limited to the establishment of the “Corfu Heritage Foundation”, but also extend to the “Kapodistrias” Philharmonic Association of Corfu through the “Aimilia and Spiro Flamburiari Foundation”, promoting the cultural wealth of Corfu.
In this same way, Spiro Flamburiari manages to leave a lasting impression on his country, strengthening culture and contributing to the preservation of cultural heritage for future generations.
For the Board of Directors
Spyros Koskinas, Chairman
Spyros Vlachos, General Secretary
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London, 18 December 2023
Dear Dr Rogakos,
On behalf of the Council and members of The Anglo-Hellenic League I am writing to express our deep condolences on the death of Count Spiro Flamburiari.
The Count was the embodiment of the values of Anglo-Hellenism. He was a great bridge between Britain and Greece: between two peoples and two cultures. His love and knowledge of the heritage, history and culture of his πατρίδα Corfu shone out not only in his personality but also in the fine legacy he has bequeathed: the Corfu Heritage Foundation and the Edward Lear Society. Few people have both understood the historic and continuing ties between Britain and Corfu and succeeded in strengthening them as the Count did. He will be sorely missed, though his memory will, I am sure, be sustained and carried forward by the organisations and many friends he has left behind.
I would be grateful if you could transmit our condolences to Milly, the late Count’s widow, and their family, and to the trustees of the Corfu Heritage Foundation. We all grieve together the loss of a great Corfiot, a great Anglophile and a great man.
The League will be represented at tomorrow’s funeral by Ms Roula Konzotis, the Vice-Chair of the Council of the League.
Yours most sincerely,
Dr John Kittmer
The Anglo-Hellenic League, Chair
[reproduced with permission]
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The funeral service of our beloved Chairman, the late Spiro Flamburiari, at Saint Sophia’s Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Bayswater, on the 19th December 2023, was in keeping with his high standards.
It was wonderful that on a rainy winter’s day most of his good friends turned up. Sir Thimios Mitropoulos, Mr & Mrs Thanassis Makris, Mr Elias Capodistria, Mr & Mrs Sakis Prassas, Dr Ian Weir, Lady Marina Marks and Dr Martin Kisch, Mr & Mrs Richard Bernaise, Mr & Mrs Derek Johns, Duke and Duchess of St Albans, Lord Norman Lamont, Mrs Karen Phillipps, Mr Adrian Ginsberg, Mr & Mrs Peter Gray, Dr & Mrs Nicholas Richardson, Mr Alexandros Kedros, Mr George Kratsas, Ms Constance Kratsa, Mrs Agalis Manessi, Mrs Melita Kourkoumelis-Chakiris, Mrs Annabelle Louvros, Mrs Fiona Forsyth, Ms Maria Dry, Mr & Mrs Ken Reilly, Mr & Mrs Gaspar Gilroy, Mrs Christine Craig and Mr Nikos Kalliafas are some of those attending. There was also Ms Roula Konzotis, representing the Anglo-Hellenic League. The funeral service, led by the Archimandrite Theonas Bakalis, Dean of the Cathedral, was solemn and serene, alas without psalms, but friends even from other faiths admired it.
Mr George Kratsas had Countess Flamburiari’s permission to deliver a eulogy at the end of the service, which honoured our Chairman quite appropriately. He mentioned the Corfu Heritage Foundation with a wish that it may carry on its mission successfully in the future.
The committal at Gunnersbury Cemetery, Chiswick, was also well attended by most of the participants in the funerary service.
The Corfu Heritage Foundation
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George Kratsas, “Eulogy for Spiro Flamburuari”
Saint Sophia’s Greek Orthodox Cathedral, London, 19 December 2023
It is with great pain that we are gathered here today to say goodbye to a friend and a formidable man, Spiro Flamburiari. A benefactor and philanthropist who marked not only the lives of those around him, but society at large.
Spiro’s charisma was the result of human characteristics that are rarely found nowadays: chivalry, ethos, grace, patriotism combined with his friendliness and sense of hospitality.
Being the descendant of a historical family, with roots in Constantinople, and whose trajectory played a distinguished part in the political and cultural life of the Ionian islands, Spiro was conscious of the significance of this history, which drove his affection and sense of duty towards Ionian history and culture. It was this connection that brought us together, our family and his, through our common link to the Flamburiari family, of which my grandmother was also a part.
In 2000 he managed to create the Corfu Heritage Foundation with a vision to promote Anglo-Hellenic relations for which he worked for a number of years as a goodwill ambassador. The institution is endowed with a significant collection of artworks by various local and international artists, the majority of which depict Corfu and the Ionian Islands. Among the organisations he benefited were the Ionian University, the Mantzaros Philharmonic and the Corfu Reading Society, one of the most historic intellectual institutions of Hellenism. With a donation he recently made, an elevator was even installed in the Reading Society. After all, a bronze bust of Edward Lear was placed on his own initiative in 2014 in the emblematic area of the Reading Society, to honour the long and deep spiritual relationship between Greece and England. This man of Corfu was one of the founding members of the British society (www.edwardlearsociety.org) for the memory and work of the amazing painter and traveller, who became an “ambassador” of the island’s beauty as much as the Durrells.
Spiro’s life showcased the importance of preserving our identity as Ionians and Corfiots and the benefits of education and remembrance in society. He understood better than most, that the sense pride and belonging, which is so prevalent among us Ionians, rely on understanding the common elements that distinguish us as people and bind our society together. And Spiro devoted his life to this cause because he knew in his heart that it was a justified one.
He founded the Corfu Heritage Foundation to preserve and promote Ionian history and he co-founded the Edward Lear Society in London. He was recently recognised by the Corfiot Reading Society and the Mantzaros Philarmonic as a great benefactor. His last act, the creation of the Spiro and Aemilia Flamburiari Foundation will ensure that he will continue to leave his mark and benefit our society for many years to come.
He always held himself to a high standard and demanded a similarly high standard from those around him and of his country’s and Corfu’s elected officials. He did not hesitate to condemn indifference and selfishness, even publicly, and was always clear about the importance of upholding social values and good morals in modern society.
Spiro’s personality was always supplemented by the elegant and gracious presence of his wife, Milly, a successful painter and avid art enthusiast who was always on his mind. Their strong bond has been an exemplar union for younger generations to aspire to.
Spiro’s loss, which came only a few weeks after the passing of his wonderful sister Aemilia, will be truly felt by all those around him. But thanks to his actions, his legacy will carry on and be remembered for many years to come.
We will remember him fondly and on behalf of my family I offer to his wife, Milly, our deepest condolences.
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Margarita Pournara, “Spiro Flamburiari, a rare patriot of Corfu, has passed away”
Kathimerini, 8 December 2023
He had unwavering blue eyes sharpened by intelligence and a kind of old-fashioned nobility that you only find in the Ionian. Spiro Flamburiari, a native of Corfu – by origin and manners – passed away a few days ago, two months after I first met him on his island. He did me the honour of welcoming me to his home for lunch and unfolding aspects of his extremely interesting and varied life that he always kept out of the limelight.
I was impressed by his mind and his disposition despite his 93 years to constantly make plans, typical of creative people who have indomitable spiritual energy. An aristocratic scion with roots from Constantinople, with a house in the old town that is today the Cavalieri Hotel, Flamburiari spent his early years in the kantounia (narrow alleys of Corfu) but quickly left for abroad where he excelled in business.
He married the British lady Milly, a painter who studied at Saint Martins but for the sake of her husband she loved Corfu above all. Even though he lived in London for 60 years, he always had his heart in his homeland. He proved it in practice since he became a great benefactor with a concern to protect the culture of the Ionian and particularly of his birthplace through the support of worthy institutions.
In 2000 he managed to create the Corfu Heritage Foundation with a vision to promote Anglo-Hellenic relations for which he worked for a number of years as a goodwill ambassador. The institution is endowed with a significant collection of artworks by various local and international artists, the majority of which depict Corfu and the Ionian Islands. Among the organizations he benefited were the Ionian University, the Mantzaros Philharmonic and the Corfu Reading Society, one of the most historic intellectual institutions of Hellenism. With a donation he recently made, an elevator was even installed in the Reading Society. After all, a bronze bust of Edward Lear was placed on his own initiative in 2014 in the emblematic area of the Reading Society, to honour the long and deep spiritual relationship between Greece and England. This man of Corfu was one of the founding members of the British society (www.edwardlearsociety.org) for the memory and work of the amazing painter and traveller, who became an “ambassador” of the island’s beauty as much as the Durrells.
In recent years, he prepared the creation of a new, larger foundation, which will act as the administrator of his legacy, under the name “Aemilia and Spiro Flamburiari Foundation” and aimed at helping the spiritual, cultural and educational institutions of Corfu. The deceased will be buried in London.
https://www.kathimerini.gr/culture/athinaika-plus/562770901/efyge-o-spyros-flampoyriaris-enas-spanios-eypatridis-tis-kerkyras/
[original article in Greek translated by Megakles Rogakos]