Barrydale Online

Barrydale will be poorer, having recently lost Massimo Cecconi. Although Massimo sadly passed away at 61 years of age, he packed more than one normal lifetime into those years.

Born in Italy, Massimo spent two years in the Naval Acadamy and then went on to study political science, after which he worked in the Research Institute for Classical Antiquities. It was Massimo's hobby, photography, which was ulitmately to change the course of his life. Taking the advice of his brother, a photographer, Massimo purchased a camera and started taking photographs.  He submitted some photographs to one of Milano's most important magazines, Fotographo. His work was so admired that his photographs immediately landed on the cover and his career took wings.  Almost by accident Massimo and his wife, Elvira, relocated to Johannesburg  (they were at a party in Milano when someone suggested "why not go to South Africa?") South Africa loved Massimo's work and soon he was "the" photographer in South African fashion and advertising. Massimo also photographed for many glossy interior design books and magazines.

Itchy feet brought Massimo and Elvira to Cape Town in the early '90's. Continuing with his career in photography, with Elvira helping constantly at his side, Massimo also started painting, mostly in oils. Massimo spent the last seven years of his life in Barrydale. He published the "Barrydale Post", a local newspaper, enjoyed cooking, friends and good wine (his constant battle was to teach South Africans how to cook Italian food correctly!) He gave swordfighting lessons and also gave art lessons to locals together with Nigel Hewett.  Massimo was able to bring out the artist in his students and they will miss him, as will his dogs Marta and Peppi and Elvira, his wife and friend for over 30 years.