Patrick Leigh Fermor Home and Museum to be Restored

Patrick Leigh Fermor's Home, Kardamyli, Greece. Photo Jim Claven 2016

In May this year I was able to fulfill one of my dreams by visiting the former home of Patrick Leigh Fermor on the outskirts of Kardamyli in the Mani region of southern Greece.
For those who don't know, Patrick was a great Phil-hellene, WW2 veteran of the Greek and Crete campaigns, SOE agent on Crete during the occupation and travel writer - author of Mani, one of the best travel books about Greece. He was also the patron of the British-based Brotherhood of Veterans of the Greek Campaign.

His exploits during the war were immortalised in the British movie - I'll met by moonlight - which recounts the story of the kidnapping of the German General Kreipe during the German occupation of Crete. I was also fortunate to have been able to walk the location on Crete - south of the ancient site of Knossos - of this famous kidnapping.

Patrick Leigh Fermor (front centre) with another SOE Agent and their Greek Resistance fighter comrades

He died 5 years ago and gifted his home and its magnificent library to the people of Greece. It is now being managed by Greece's Benaki Museum.
I was joined on my visit by members of the British-based Brotherhood of Veterans of the Greek Campaign.
Great news this week is that the Stavros Niarchos Fondation will fund its much needed repair, restoration and new equipment purchases. Soon the home will host artists and writers.
If you would like to visit the Fermor home contact the Benaki Museum on-line - its well worth a visit.
For more information on the announcement and how to visit the home, click here.
Posted for all interested in the preservation of Patrick Leigh Fermor's heritage in Greece.
Thanks to David Sanderson of the British-based Brotherhood of Veterans of the Greek Campaign for this information.
Jim Claven
Secretary
Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee