Since 2012 I’ve been researching the life of this fascinating character who was originally named Theophile Lucifer Gardini. He spent his last years living in a terraced house round the corner from where I live in South Shields.
In 2018 I produced a short documentary ‘Secrets & Lies’ based on what I found about his life so far, a link is at the end of the post.
I often mention him to neighbours and hear the odd story about Avro and his wife Anne. Recently an old friend got in touch and remembers the couple who lived at 45 Henry Nelson Street.
‘We moved into 32 Henry Nelson first week of June 1990, I think Avro died in the November so it was only a short time. I remember his wife used to have a little furry dog. She used to walk it out all the time.’ Recalled 60 year old Jeff Anderson now living in Washington, County Durham.
‘I’d see them in the street. Always well dressed. Always smiling. I don’t think local people were aware of who he was to be honest.’
‘Actually, very first time I came across him and his wife was prior to moving into the same street. I saw them on the corner of King Street in the town centre. They really stood out, there was a real glow about them. They had a big smile on their faces. You couldn’t help but notice them’.
‘What they were wearing was very classy – not the type of clothes the everyday person of Shields would wear on a Saturday afternoon. They really stood out of the crowd just by their whole demeanour.’
‘But when Avro died I remember his wife was absolutely devastated. From the initial sighting in King Street and other times in Henry Nelson they had this glow about them but after Avro died that seemed to vanish from her. From what I can remember she was never quite the same’.
‘A strange thing happened to me on the night he died. I went to pick my wife up from work in the town centre but there was nowhere to park so I had to go back round the block. I went past St Hilda’s Church and as I went round the corner I had like a paranormal occurrence – the only way to describe it. I actually saw a vision of Avro on the ground reaching up to me. I was shocked, I thought what’s going on. This is a bit weird.’
‘I continued on and as I came back round the block again there was no sign of him. Gone. It really freaked me out as you can imagine. It wasn’t until a few days later that I learned he had died that night. So, you know what was going on there?’
‘I didn’t know anything about him having any health problems. He died at 76 you say? Doesn’t seem that old now does it?’
If you have any information about Italian born author & artist Baron Avro Manhattan (1914-90) please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Alikivi June 2025
ALIKIVI : NORTH EAST UK CULTURE 