AN 87-year-old tailor who still works five days a week has written a memoir to share his fascinating life story.
Tarcisio Paniccia learned the tailoring trade while growing up in Italy. Since moving to Bristol in 1963 he has run the tailoring business Michael’s Tailoring in Ashley Down, where he still creates bespoke suits for customers today.
His autobiography, A Stitch In Time, tells the story of him growing up in a two-room house in Italy as one of nine children during WWII. The book also covers his move to England, meeting his wife, Patricia, at the Co-op clothing factory in Brislington, and tales of family life with his four children, Richard, Lisa, Daniela and Francesca, plus 10 grandchildren.
The book reveals some of the high-profile clients he has made suits for over the decades, including England cricketer Syd Lawrence and Bristol band Massive Attack.
As well as running Michael’s Tailoring – he used his middle name for the shop because he didn’t think English people would be able to pronounce Tarcisio – he also ran Gino’s late-night restaurant on Park Row for several years.
Tarcisio’s children gave him the experience of writing his autobiography as a birthday present. He spent several months talking through his life story with a local ghostwriter, who wrote his memoir ready for publication.
As well as printing copies for his family and friends in England, he had extra copies made to distribute to his relatives still living in Sora, the Italian village in which he grew up and where he still spends every summer.
He said: “I’m very proud that I’ve had the opportunity to put the details from my life in a book.
“The book is filled with lots of stories and memories from my life. I have so many more memories and stories I could write another book!”