Looking for friends from the Amporaha camp in Nosy Be

Hey Francis, A little hello from Libreville where it’s hot and humid. I follow the events in Madagascar when I can. It was kind of predictable, but still really sad.... I’m planning to return toward the end of March. We need to find a time to meet up. Cheers, Franck

today’s question: where’s the Samba website project at?...

Best to everyone, and sorry that none of my close friends from that time in my life reached out after I posted a few photos

Good evening everyone, Voisin101, I sent you a little message in PM. Bruno L, thanks for the info about your trip—when’s the next one? Franck, hope everything’s going well; let’s catch up by phone when you’re back. BDelhom, your photos are amazing, especially with the captions!

Lately, I’ve had some big issues with my computer and scanners. Then I took advantage of the holidays to take care of my 7 little rascals, and off we went to the beach in Brittany. It was great—so many oysters and mussels, and they were delicious! Apart from the temperature, it was still super.

I’d like to let you know, especially the former campers, that Henri Ratsimbazafy is touring France for his farewell performances. Just to remind you, Henri Ratsimbazafy made a *huge* number of people dance—pretty much everyone—back in the day with hits like *Ton lamba blanc*, *Au zoma*, *Revoir Tana*... For more details about his tour, check out: http://www.sobika.com or contact me.

For those who want recent updates and to follow events in Madagascar closely, feel free to reach out—I’ll send you a list of useful websites.

See you soon, Nosy Be crew!

Hi Francis, Thanks for the compliment, but it was passed on to my father, who is the author of the photos and comments, plus the scanning... and since he doesn’t want anything to do with the internet, I’m acting as the go-between. But isn’t that the spirit in which a potential site would be created? Best to you and your loved ones; Bertrand PS: I think there are still some slides left; the trick is just finding them

a few fishing pictures from Amporaha beach and a photo of Hellville center

best wishes to everyone

Hi there,

A few photos that might ring a bell for some of you...

http://www.kizoa.com/i-Contact/sflite.swf?fmode=5&did=378697&kc=9043929

Cheers,

Jo

Good evening everyone! Thanks to you, Parker 78, for these amazing photos and memories. I’ll message you privately on VF. For those who can’t see the photos, click here or on: http://www.kizoa.com/i-Contact/sflite.swf?fmode=5&did=378697&kc=9043929

About the photo of Hell-Ville market by Voisin101 taken in ’62 or ’63, I’d forgotten that the market and the theater were separate. Here are some photos of Hell-Ville market from January 1990 (Mrs. Émile from behind), June 2008, and after refurbishment in December 2008.

Feel free to reach out: lenosybeen@orange.fr See you soon! @ le nosy-béen

another chance to relive some old memories; photo taken at takeoff in a DC3 with a view of the BA181 hangars at IVATO

best to all

To all the Madamoureux,

The website is coming along... great!!! A big thank you to Philippe "the designer", Francis "the organizer", and all the future "contributors" with talents (texts, photos, anecdotes, memories, etc.), as well as the "seekers of lost connections" who know someone who found so-and-so who talked to so-and-so... who saw the lemur...

Photos from 1959 of the SAOUT family (thank you, they're amazing!) Summer Palace of the Queen - Lake Anosy Tana - Scene by the riverside

Veloma Christian

We all had the same favorites during our stays in Tana, so I’m posting the same photo taken in 1962.

Best wishes to everyone while we wait for the site where we can reunite.

I just found the website for the alumni of the Amporaha camp in Nosy Be. I was there from 1969 to 1971. I was a radio operator and handled supply orders and loading plans for the Nord 2501s that shuttled between Tana and Nosy Be. I met quite a few people during that time. 😎 I’d really be happy to reconnect with anyone from that period—I was in my early twenties back then.

Hello Patrick Bednarek, I’m really happy to get in touch with you. I knew your dad well—we worked together at the STS in Ivato. Back then, I was Sergeant Bessot. I even have photos of your dad at a barbecue at the reception center in Ivato, plus lots of other stories with him in Nosy-Be, like when he was reading in the toilet and I sprayed him with the water jet under the Turkish toilet door. We were really close. There was also Sergeant (at the time) Jean-Marie Vidal, who now lives near Alès. It was your dad who welcomed me in July 1969 at 2:00 AM—what a memory!

😎 Hi, it’s Patrick, the son of Sergeant Major "radio" BNK, aka BEN, in the air force (Romain BEDNAREK) at the S.T.S. base in Ivato. I did meet Nathalie GAC in 1969 at Amporaha camp—if I remember right, her father was a captain.

Below are some photos: my brother Jean-Marc, my brother Thierry, and my little sister Emmanuelle (in front of our tent).

The black-and-white photo: that’s our arrival in Fascene in July 1969.

Hi everyone, I just discovered this site about the Amporaha military camp—so many memories! I was stationed at the Ivato Air Base from 1969 to 1971 as a radio operator at the reception center (the head of the STA was Captain Vesan). I did three tours as a radio operator, including setting up a camp. At Ivato, a buddy and I ran the CMAI Nautical Club (sailing and waterskiing). I have wonderful memories of my time in Madagascar—I still go back often on humanitarian missions (with the Babakoto Association) in the Antsirabe region (Ambositra). I hope through this forum to find some "old-timers" from that era. Take care, Jean Marie retired in the Cévennes

Hi Bruno Lataste, I just discovered this site and especially a photo where I see Mrs. Boulissière (a friend), and behind the young girl holding her by the shoulders, there’s my wife Gisèle;; Back then, with Mahistre, I was in charge of the Cmai—I often return to Madagascar with the Babakoto association, and maybe we’ll go to Réunion at the end of the year... I have a niece who’s a teacher. Looking forward to hearing from you— My email: jmvidal@neuf.fr Veloma, jean marie retired in the Cévennes

You're so lucky to have gotten so many replies! I'm a native of Tamatave and have lived in France since 1964. I posted two ads, I have lots of readers, but no responses. I keep hoping but I'm also sad about it. Of course, I won't give up. I wonder if this system works well in Tamatave. Let it be known: a heart in need is looking for old friends. Veloma.

here’s a photo of a great memory from Ampohara beach

best wishes to everyone

😉 Dear Yves,

Thanks for all these memories about my dad BNK, and if you don’t claim copyright, I’ll post the photo on the forum. So Francis, do you recognize your dad’s buddy??? Watch out, everyone! My brothers are about to show up on the forum.

Did any of you know my father, Sergeant Major Bednarek, at the STS station? He was there from 1969 to 1972.

Hi Patrick, Yes, I knew your dad well in Ivato. I sent you a private message to your email that Nosybé2 gave me—I think it reached you just fine. Best, Jean Marie

My name is Claude PELLERIN, and I spent a stay in Ivato from August 1967 to September 1968 at the Secretariat of Commanders DELHOUM and then SIZUN. We can exchange directly via my email: remondenche@free.fr

See you soon, Claude