A packed Teatro dei Differenti this afternoon for the annual Saint Christopher Gold Medal awards. Now in its tenth year and this season something very different to the normal format. A series of prizes and recognitions for people in various sectors of life here in Barga were presented but only one Premio San Cristoforo d’Oro (Golden St Christopher medal) – and that was awarded to the man who promoted the idea of giving annual gold medals in the first place – Prof. Umberto Sereni.
The Premio San Cristoforo d’Oro (Golden St Christopher medals) named for Barga’s ancient patron, Saint Christopher, are presented each year to celebrate extraordinary contributions to the town and its people.
The list of people honoured this year:
Cultura – Prof. Stefano Borsi; M° Silvio Barbato (ricordo in memoria); Mario Bargero; Maria Pia Baroncelli; Fred Kuwornu per Inside Buffalo; “Il Giornale di Barga” nel 60° anno dalla fondazione; Fratelli Maurizio e Cristian Poli per il Festival Letterario “Fra le righe di Barga” ; per la pubblicazione Santa Maria Assunta in Loppia (Paolo Tomei, Lido Stefani, Antonio Nardini, Lucia Morelli, Valeria Agostini, Sara Moscardini, Alessandro Pierotti, Massimo Pia, Ugo Borghesi e Paolo Marroni);
Sport – Sara Morganti (campionessa paraolimpica di equitazione); George Biagi (Rugby);
Volontariato – Mirella Redini; Giampiero Gonnella; Lucia Mozzini
Scuola; Iolanda Bocci; Giovanna Mannelli;
Musica – Massimo Salotti;
Commercio – Alessandro Sainati; Ugo Borghesi
Angelina Gonnella “Ambasciatrice di Barga all’estero” (Hayange); Don Giuseppe Cola; Immobiliare Santa Caterina – Geometra Bertolacci; Dottor Mario Betti
Golden St Christopher medals recognised people who had helped to raise Barga’s profile across the world. “It was important that we did something to honour the citizens of Barga. Many places do it but Barga was not one of them so we decided to use our patron saint as a symbol of pride and identity for the town. Every year we honour people who have stood out and done something in Barga or across the world.” – Umberto Sereni
Click on the link below to hear Umberto Sereni speaking after being awarded the Golden St Christopher medal for 2009