service which runs hostels and accommodation throughout Italy, and specifi-
cally https://www.foresteriavenezia.it/ for the hostel/hotel in Venice. The
Palazzo Cavagnis has hotel standard rooms, but also simpler hostel accom-
modation suitable for parties of young people. It is easy to book, and very
reasonably priced. We shall always be grateful to Erica for putting us on to
Foresteria Valdese and providing us with a holiday which was a unique ex-
perience.
Malcolm and Dottie Haslett
Lord Alfred Paget
Those of you who have been watching the TV series Victoria will be interested
to know that Sir Alfred Paget (played by Jordan Waller in the second series)
was from a noble British family with links with the Waldensian Church.
His cousin was Mrs Louisa Boyce, who was a great benefactress of the
work of the Waldensians in Liguria and who (amongst other things) funded
the opening of a Church, a school (which went on to become an orphanage) in
Vallecrosia—the building is now the Foresteria Valdese, where young people
from the valleys go for their summer camps and where many Waldensian
families go for their annual seaside holiday.
Caricature
by Ape
published in
Vanity Fair
in 1875.
Jordan
Waller as
Lord Alfred.
The real Lord Alfred Paget, a lieutenant in the Royal Horse Guards, was
Queen Victoria’s Chief Equerry (1846–52) and went on to be a Liberal Mem-
ber of Parliament for Lichfield. There is no historical evidence that he had a
relationship with Sir Robert Peel’s secretary Edward Drummond, as depicted
in the TV series. Paget married Cecilia Wyndham and had 14 children. Their
first child, a daughter, was named Victoria Alexandrina after the Queen.
Another cousin of Louisa and Alfred was Sir Augustus Paget, who worked
in Florence for the British Embassy there and with whom Louisa was often
in contact for advice when setting up the school/orphanage in Vallecrosia.
Nicky Raddon
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