Family keep son's memory alive

A SUFFOLK father who vowed to keep the memory of his teenage son alive by naming a restaurant after him has kept his promise.

Restaurateur Antonios Sinadinos teamed up with Nikola Mieda to name a Greek taverna Alexandros, in tribute to his 14-year-old son who died in a road accident in January 2000.

When the pair took over the former 70-seater Aphrodite restaurant on Upper Orwell Street, in August, they refurbished it and renamed it Alexandros after the popular Copleston High School pupil.

Antonios, of Waterworks Street, said: "I wanted to so something in Ipswich after the tragic death of my son.

"I didn't want to leave and go back to Greece. I wanted to stay near my daughter, Amy, 13, and to give my son's name to the restaurant in Ipswich is the least I can do in his memory.

"It is also so his school friends and people in Ipswich can remember him. In fact we had a celebration for Alex's classmates in the restaurant shortly after it opened."

Teenager Alexandros, who was also known as Alex, was a kind and popular pupil and died in Ipswich Hospital after he was struck by a car on Foxhall Road.

"Alex was always asking if I could have a restaurant so he could help out at weekends," said Antonios. "It was a promise that I made that I will do another a restaurant and in his name.

"I had a chat with Nikola, who is very experienced in the restaurant trade, and he was happy to do this."

Antonios and Nikola are both familiar faces in the town. Greek-born Antonios, a board member of the Greek Community, owned Zorba's restaurant for six years up until four years ago and Nikola worked in restaurants including Venezia.

The restaurant, which has an authentic Greek ambience, is already up and running but pair are planning an official opening at a later date.