“Hundreds of stalwart, hard-working men and women, young and not-so-young, who year in and year out give unselfishly of their time and their resources to help create in one or other of a dozen different ways the funds that are essential for the Argentine-British Community in Argentina.”
This is how the Argentine British Community Council (ABCC) describes its members. The ABCC is an organisation set up in 1939 to “promote the welfare of the Argentine British Community”, to support those of its members who need help, and to uphold British values. In order to do this it runs a variety of fund-raising events, from garden fairs to curry nights. The main beneficiaries are the elderly, most importantly the British American Benevolent fund, a care home for retirees, the Royal British Legion Benevolent Fund and the British Hospital.
The ABCC is a slightly peculiar organisation: it feels something like an Argentine version of the Women’s Institute, maintaining values (and using language) which appear to fit more with the UK in the 1950s than the country today. The organisation’s concept of Britishness sometimes seems to be a far cry from how most Brits living at home perceive their own society: with garden fetes and groups of ladies who get together to make jam it is more like a parody of an Enid Blyton book than a reflection of modern Britain. It also has a strong dose of conservatism, and a mixed attitude to its colonial past. But despite this, there is no doubt that it continues to be a dynamic organisation that does outstanding work in the community.
What do you mean “British”?
“Although I’m Argentine I have been brought up more British than the British… I think that there are certain values that, even if I were brought up in England, wouldn’t be what they are here, because they’re not as contaminated.”
These are the words of Marian Bell, third generation British immigrant to Argentina and entertainment officer for the Argentine British Community Council. She describes how her parents raised her according to their memories of home, in a way that “I thought was ‘British’ but is no longer”. Marian describes her version of Britishness as a sort of combination between polite behaviour and organisation: “being on time, being courteous, being helpful, being thoughtful, saying thank you, saying please… At home we help out, we sit and have dinner together, we don’t scream and shout.” The ABCC’s website takes a similar view of Britishness, describing its own work in the community as “a truly magnificent example of teamwork and that selfless desire to help others which is a British tradition.”
The description is perhaps in contrast to how the majority of Brits living in Britain see themselves. A survey by The Times in 2005 invited readers to create a five-word-long motto that summed up the nations values and the winning entry was “No motto please, we’re British”. Other submissions ranged from “we apologise for the inconvenience” to “we strive for valiant defeat”.
The ABCC doesn’t have any of this trademark cynicism. On the contrary, the organisation has a relentlessly chirpy outlook and places emphasis on the importance of a “can do attitude”. While the idea that values at home have been “contaminated” is questionable and although Britain’s stubborn grumpiness is (in my opinion) one of its most attractive qualities, there is no doubt that the ABCC’s outlook makes it easier to get things done.
Brits in Argentina – ups and downs
As you would expect, the ABCC is very much rooted in the history of the British in Argentina. The story of the relationship between the two countries is long, but has not always been easy. During the 19th century Britain bought raw materials from Argentina on a massive scale, exported them back home to be processed by British industry, and then, in many cases, sold the finished products back to Argentina, profiting greatly in the process. A few people, both British and Argentine, became fabulously rich from the arrangement. However, in most cases the immigrants and Argentine workers who did much of the labour didn’t share in the wealth.
When Perón came to power in the 40s on the back of a strong nationalist ideology, he broke relations with the British, who were associated purely with rich oligarchs and colonialists. During this time, when Argentine nationalism was particularly strong, Marian recalls “we did not speak English in public” for fear of social repercussions.
This history of conflict between the two countries has perhaps led to a certain defensiveness in the way the ABCC views its own British identity. When Marian describes her own particular blend of Britishness in Argentina she is unapologetic in telling me: “If I say that it’s better, I think it is.” Quite the opposite of expressing any colonial guilt, the community is very firm about celebrating the achievements of Britain in Argentina. Terry Chapman, outgoing entertainment officer, and longstanding member of the ABCC tells me “I’m very proud of what we have done with the community here… Go to St Andrews cathedral in town, go to St John’s cathedral in Buenos Aires and you’ll realise what beauty there is in that, those buildings.”
This defensiveness regarding British heritage in Argentina is perhaps easier to understand when you hear about the difficult experiences many British immigrants have had here. During the Falklands/Malvinas war, when relations were at their lowest ebb, life for British people in the country was hard. Marian describes how “people were cross with us. It doesn’t matter if we built the country, helped build the country, are part of the country. It doesn’t matter. As far as they’re concerned, it’s your fellow friends who are invading our property.” As a result of the tension her whole family left Argentina. Today, she describes living between two cultures as a difficult mix: “I’m not a foreigner, I’m a local. But yet, I am a foreigner.”
Terry had an equally damaging experience during the war: her son, who was Argentine born, but English speaking and with an English name, was conscripted into the Argentine navy. Although he was willing to serve he could not get on with his petty officers, who harassed him because of his English background. After getting into a fight with some of them, he was sent to jail, where he spent the whole of the conflict, although afterwards he was fully acquitted.
However, it has to be said that the community does not dwell on the problems of the past, and is now at pains to stress how it works with Argentina to the benefit of both communities. Events for the ABCC are held in both English and Spanish, and part of the organisation’s mission statement is to strengthen “the links between the Community and the country”. Terry describes how the ABCC is dedicated to “mixing the best of two worlds. We’re mixing the culture with the kindness and the affection and fun of the Argentines.”
A modern, British family
Today the ABCC mostly functions as a charity and welfare organisation. The community regularly organises events, ranging from fêtes and car boot sales, to curry nights and quizzes, both to raise money and to give the community regular opportunities to meet and bond. Marian stresses: “It’s not just a money making venture. It’s hand and hand with community building.” A fair held last weekend at the British embassy certainly proved this: over 1,400 people turned up, ranging from tiny babies to the elderly and everything in between. Speaking a mixture of English and Spanish, the groups of people milling around were lively and happy to be there.
The atmosphere of the fête seemed to say a lot about the organisation; it was almost exactly like a British school fair transplanted in Argentina, complete with tin can shies, tombolas, bric-a-brac sales, fair-ground games and a bouncy castle. However, it still contained an Argentine twist in the form of an excellent asado with choripán and chimichurri. What’s more, you could see a little element of the confused, post-colonial status of the organisation. There was a game called ‘treasure island’ which featured maps of islands from around the world, including Haiti and Hawaii, with the flags of different countries stuck into them. You could pay to select a flag, and if you were lucky, the number on the bottom would correspond to a prize. This perhaps seemed like a bit of an unfortunate choice (and a cruel parody of the Argentine label for the British “piratas”), but when we asked the old ladies who ran the stall, it genuinely seemed to have been conceived in all innocence.
Most of the money raised by the events is shared out by three organisations: BABS, a care home for the elderly, the British Legion and the British Hospital. Perhaps what is most special about the ABCC is the way it doesn’t just hand money out, but actively fosters care and support within the community. Marian and Terry both emphasise the importance of integrating generations, involving the youth, while creating respect for the elderly. “It’s good to listen to the elders…especially when we talk sense!” Terry tells me.
More importantly, reciprocity is the most important element of the charity work: Marian describes telling the residents BABS “we are supporting you but, hello, you can give as a hand. And we would like to see you and know who you are that we’re supporting.” This has two main results: firstly everyone knows exactly where their money is going, and secondly; the beneficiaries of the ABCC get more than people’s cash, they also get their company.
To me, this aspect of supporting the elderly and involving them in the community seems different from Britain in a wholly positive way. Whereas on the other side of the Atlantic scandals are constantly surfacing about abuse and neglect in hospitals and care homes, the ABCC seems like a wonderful example of different generations of a community coming together and supporting one another. Colonial history and Enid Blyton aside, today this is an organisation that is all about family.
For more information about the ABCC and about upcoming events see their website: www.abcc.org.ar
