Last month Devizes lost its beloved baker-guitarist extraordinaire Giovanni Campanella, but his legacy lives on.
The baker’s family have vowed to keep his renowned café and bakery, Dolcipani, open. Originally set up in partnership with his sister Sandra, his partner Daniella now runs the back end, not so many years after Giovanni taught her to bake himself. Giovanni’s uncle Enzo, a long-time collaborator, his two children Tina and Alex, and his ex-wife and good friend Susie have taken over management of the café with its current chefs and staff to help get through this difficult time. Susie said that the family will “do their absolute best to carry it on in his memory”, thanked the staff who “have worked so hard”, pulling extra hours without ever complaining, and the people of Devizes, adding “the public have been absolutely amazing.” The town community itself has pulled around the family, wanting to give back in the memory of a man who was a friend to all.
Residents learned of Giovanni’s death in May, after a four-year battle with cancer. Only two years ago, he held a concert to fundraise for the Brighter Futures Appeal for Great Western Hospital. A lifelong guitarist, he was joined by Enzo for the Singing For Life gig, which aimed to raise money for a radiotherapy unit. The concert raised over £2,500 for the appeal, which earlier this year exceeded its goal, meaning Wiltshire locals will no longer have to travel all the way to Oxford for treatment, a massive boost to patient wellbeing.