Derby Telegraph, UK
January 2, 2018 Tuesday
Former Bemrosian receives honour in adopted French city
A NATIVE of Derby and former pupil of Bemrose Grammar School recently received an unusual honour in the southern French city of Valence.
Last month, Roger D'Arcy, a former recording studio designer turned singer-songwriter who was at Bemrose from 1968 to 1975, was presented with an award for "integration" by the Mayor of Valence.
He was among ten foreign nationals who were judged to have contributed positively and significantly to multi-national integration in the town and the region.
The award was sponsored by the local Armenian Heritage Centre. The city's Armenian community is one of the largest in France, as Valence is where hundreds of Armenians re-located, particularly following the "genocide" in their own country from 1915-17.
Their community now totals around 7,500 of the city's 63,000 inhabitants.
Roger, whose father Patrick lives in Two Dales, Matlock, was the sole UK recipient, with his activity in the local Napoleon Bonaparte Society particularly recognised, together with the release of two music albums of songs written and performed by him, the CD covers and some song content of which reference historical events and landmark buildings in Valence.
Other recipients included the Japanese chef/proprietor of a local restaurant, and the Irish proprietor of an Irish pub in the town.
During the reception prior to the presentation, Roger's latest album, "House of Heads" (Maison des Têtes), was played over the public address system. Maison des Têtes is a landmark building in the older part of Valence where Napoleon spent long hours studying as a young military officer.
During the presentation, the personal history, activity and local achievements of each recipient was described.
They each received a sculptured award on which their name had been etched, a framed picture of city scenes, an illustrated history in postcard art of Valence over the last 100 years and a book describing the Armenian genocide.