Rafael Azzopardi 1977 to 1982

Azzopardi. There’s a good St Mary’s name and brothers Xavier and Rafael are both well-remembered lads from the mid to late seventies.

I’ve had the pleasure of speaking to both Xavier, who started in 1975 - and supplied one of my favourite St Mary’s stories which will be in the book - and ‘Raf’ who started with me in 1977 and who I enjoyed lunch with before lockdown.

Raf - always known at school as ‘Azzo’ - was, and is, a great character. The Azzopardis hail from Gibraltar and settled in St Mary Cray in 1973 when their father, Luis, took over a school called Shawcroft for children with learning and mental health issues.

Despite what I perceived as his popularity at school, Raf does not have particularly fond memories of St Mary’s and recalls a culture of bullying and racism which, in his case, manifested itself in childish name-calling and references to his Latin heritage.

‘Azzo’ in the 1981 school photograph

He left after his O-Levels in the summer of 1982 and did his sixth form at St Olave’s which he enjoyed immensely.

After St Olave’s, Raf worked as a chef for a year and then went to Slough College of Further Education where he did a course in Hospitality and has enjoyed a 30-year career in Hospitality and Events.

Over the course of his career, Raf has worked in countless London venues including livery halls, museums and galleries. He has also spent a lot of time in Whitehall and various Government departments, running the catering and hospitality operations.

He has also run his own food stall business and works at a private university in Regents Park, which is where we met for lunch.

Raf, a passionate Arsenal supporter, now also lectures in events and luxury brand management. He lives in Hither Green with his wife.