Looking for friends from the Amporaha camp in Nosy Be

Hi there,

Here’s a slide of the Malagasy squadron (ESCAMA) from 1969–70. I’m going through my family’s and in-laws’ slides—I should find more... DC3, Nord Atlas, Sky Raider, etc.

Looking forward to reading you on the forum. Veloma

Hello, I can't message you privately because I'm brand new on this forum and haven't sent the 20 messages required by the moderator yet. So I can't send you a private message. Here's my email: roumsalareunionNOSPA@Morange.fr. Remove the bold and underlined characters to get my email. I’ve attached some photos of Madagascar taken last October. Best, Franck

Sugarloaf in Diego

Cap Diego

Nosy Be last October

Hope to hear from you, Christian.... I already left you a message; I got back in touch with the Tavel girls. Cheers, see you soon Muriel

Hi Mumu,

It’s a Christian answering you, but not the one in the photo!! And that’s definitely you in the middle.

Have a great Sunday! @plus Veloma Nini and Christian

Hey Christian, wow, I missed so much!! Can you tell me who’s the guy on the left? The redhead—I’ll share the story in a PM. francis

😉more photos to come😉

francis I sent you a list in a PM to your Orange email address. Franck

Hi, Hello Francis, just quickly, here are some recent photos taken in Tana and Nosy Be for the enthusiasts. Photo of the entrance to the Ivate base now (taken in January 2008) and Nosy Be just a few minutes before the cyclone hit at the end of January! See you soon, I’ll be heading back to Madagascar in 2 to 3 months! !

Good evening, here are two links where you’ll get an inside look: http://aerosteles.hydroretro.net/fiche.php?code=ivato-aviacol

http://aerosteles.hydroretro.net/fiche.php?code=ivato-actuelle

Best, Franck

Hello, Happy to chat about Ivato and Nosy Bé—I was there in 1964/1965 and returned in March 2007... such wonderful memories!! Get in touch: pjf.lesnomades@club-internet.fr Hope to hear from you soon. Pierre FABRE

I’m looking for anyone who knew the old Amporaha holiday camp (north of Nosy Be)

Hi Francis, I think I’m not mistaken—I just signed up on this site today, April 2, 2008. I stayed in Nosy Be in ’67, ’68, and ’69, and I still have some photos where you appear. I knew the GAC family (Nathalie)—her father was the camp director in ’68. Also the Troin family (Marie Louise), the Perrin family (Jacques and Catherine), the Patachini, Delpèche, Anglier, and Gourves families. And the whole Émile family, including your mom, who used to make us coconut pancakes. The dives at the islet, that amazing coral reef, nighttime fruit bat hunting—so many unforgettable memories. I’m Patrick Romé; back then, I was just a teenager in your paradise. What became of Amporaha? If anyone reads this and recognizes me (or not), I’d love to share stories about Nosy Be and Madagascar. My father was in the military at Ivato. What a beautiful paradise I discovered during those years. Marie Louise, Nathalie, Solange, and all those friends—so many memories. Hopefully, see you soon; I’m waiting for news. Warm regards to all the Nosy Be locals—signed, Patrick

I’m looking for anyone who knew the old Amporaha holiday camp (north of Nosy-Be)

After reading all the messages, I won’t hide the fact that, despite being 54, I got a little emotional and my eyes welled up. I notice that everyone who’s been to Madagascar, no matter the year or how much time has passed, has memories etched in their hearts. What an incredible country! The kindness of the Malagasy people! The blend of cultures—even 40 years later, I still feel deeply connected to this nation of 20 ethnic groups, knowing that the 20th is France. Thank you, dear Malagasy friends, for not forgetting us.

I spent three years there between 1967 and 1969. I have a few memories of the last names of military personnel I interacted with—here’s the list: JJ Patachini, Corrine and JLuc Vivier, Josiane Guerrier, the Gabrielle family, Lannelongue, JJacques and Catherine Périn, Denis Gilles, JJacques Gourves, Solange Delpeche, Marie-Louise Trouin, Bertrand and Nathalie Gac, Marie-Théréze Anjelier, the Labat family, the Clémént family. These people were in Madagascar during the 67/69 period. Some lived in Bahuho in Tana, near the Mahamache stadium, and others at the Ivato base. For my part, I was in Bahuho and studied at ESCA, run by the director "Brother Romain," with whom I’m still in touch. After founding another ESCA in Tulear, he’s now in Ambatolampy, enjoying his days at 84—a real character, "a builder." If anyone from the list can give me information or if I can reconnect with them, I’d be thrilled. Or if you recognize any of them, please contact me. It’s always nice to relive memories from those beautiful years. Francis Emile, I’m waiting for your message—I’ve digitized all my Super 8 films, and they’re on DVD. I have 1 hour and 10 minutes of footage from Madagascar, including 40 minutes of Nosy-Be, and the whole team from back then is in it. The quality after digitization isn’t too bad; the Kodachrome 2 films have held up well over time. Currently, with an engineer colleague, we’re developing a direct capture system from the Super 8 projector lens to a computer—a unique setup on the planet! Once our calibration study is complete, we’ll gain better image quality, colors, and save time. The only real issue is the projectors—if anyone knows where to find this type of equipment or spare parts, let me know! ! ! Thanks.

I’ll stop rambling now—work is calling. See you soon, dear Nosy-Be friends, and thank you for all the messages you’ve written. They really warm the heart. Best regards, Patrick Romé

Good evening, First, I’d like to say two big THANK YOUs: the first to Francis for this "forum," and the second to my Friend—what am I saying??? My Brother P.ROME—it was he who gave me the link!!!! I’m not quite sure how to start this first post??? Memories, chills—I can feel I’m going to lose more hair… I’ve put out a call to my father, the camp’s doctor, for photos from two stays: the first in 1968 (1 week) and the end of June 1969 (15 days). The memories are vivid now—I’d just taken my *BEPC* exams and was waiting for the results with a guy named J-J PATACHINI… But let’s talk about the first stay—the arrival… barely settled in… a bath… a scratch… coral… what’s that?? (We’ll talk about it another time…) Lunch with a table full of young people, including one (yes, I still tear up with joy thinking about that moment)… the dynamic Father… and yes, Patrick, we can’t forget him!!! But also the Pilot… your jaw-dropping antics… then, to celebrate the meeting, a water-glass fight—even mint water, right, Nathalie!!!

Okay, that’s enough for tonight, but don’t worry—we’ll be back! By the way, I’ve got a name that should ring a bell for Francis and, I hope, others—or even the person himself: POULIQUEN (not sure about the spelling), but his shark, ray, and lobster spearfishing had really impressed me!!

Jean-Jacques GOURVES

Hey everyone, I realize the "yéyés" club is still going strong! Welcome to prome and ledoc253—I’ll message you privately, but it’s great for finding people’s names! It’s true that POULIQUEN was a pro at diving. By the way, for diving enthusiasts, there’s a site: pieds-lourds.com created by Jean Gilbert (70-71), another sea pro! See you later, Francis

Hi Jean-Jacques,

I had the pleasure of connecting with Patrick Romé on Copains d’Avant through ESCA. I gave him the address of the forum created by Francis... and the chain keeps growing on its own—it’s great!!

Do we know each other? We must’ve crossed paths in Amporaha, Ivato, or Tana (at the military mess in Fiadan). Anyway, I know POULIQUEN. He was in the military at BA 181 and was my PE teacher at ESCA. A famous free-diver.

There are a few photos on the site with familiar faces and others without names... if you can help us put names to them (and track them down), that’d be great. We can also exchange private emails (by clicking on the name on the left in blue, then on the little envelope—your message won’t be published on the site).

Veloma, Christian (Zoma)

Hello everyone, here’s the continuation of the families contacted: Olivier Raymond 71-72, Barré Daniel (deceased), Jahin Pierre 70-73, Barendon Georges 71-73, Bozon Lucien 65-68, Gillet Elie 67-69, Bois Maurice 61 (6 months), Sevat 70-72, Stoger Marc, Muiron Jacques 70-72, Cochet Michel, Fournier Pierre, Huron (deceased) 64-66, Ferraro Armand 65-67, Cyrile Bernard 66-68, Grégoire 61-64, Euvrard, Germanovitch André (deceased) 69-71, Billiotte 70-72, Sanjivy Ludovic 62-64, Coppola Jean 66-68, Lecomte Louis 70-73, Pavat Edouart (deceased) 63-66, Gigou René 64-66, Marches Bernard, Robin James (deceased) 59-62, Gigant De Girus (deceased) 59-62, Millet Claude, Dubois Michel 68-70, Cavarec Daniel 65-67, Andrieu Paul 70-72, Degras Luc 62-65, Larreur Henri, Romé Marc 67-69, Rain Pierre, Geindreau Michel 62-65, Paris 65-67, and... Franck Roumy, who didn’t have the chance to experience the magic of Amporaha camp (he has no idea what he missed!!! It could’ve been one more cheerful rascal!). But we welcome him among us and especially thank him for his help.

Anyway, to be continued in the next episode... I’ll be away from May 21st to... July 31st, and guess where? Whoever loves me, follow me... the worst part is that some will! Heh heh! I’m gonna show them a wild time...

Photo: I’m telling you... I’m gonna show them a wild time...