Son of former PM assassinated by Iron Guard passes away in UK, to be buried in Romania

Barbu Armand Calinescu, the only son of former Romanian Prime Minister Armand Calinescu, will be buried in Romania in October, after passing away at 92 in UK in September this year. He will be buried in the family mausoleum in Curtea de Arges, his father's birth place. Barbu Armand Calinescu has been living in UK since 1938, when his father, then a Prime Minister under King Carol of Romania, sent him to Maiden Erlegh School in England, fearing he would be kidnapped. A year later, his father was assassinated by the Iron Guard. Barbu was left very much alone in England, and it was 28 years before he saw his mother Adela again. Despite such hardships, Barbu attended the Magdalene College Cambridge, studying architecture. In that time, he played drums in his own jazz band and played for the university ice hockey team, becoming the coach in 1943. Barbu Armand Calinescu worked as an architect for the University of Cambridge until his retirement. He spent over 75 years living in the Cambridge area. According to his family, he was involved in helping young Romanian students at the university throughout his life, ensuring they had support whilst away from their family and homeland. He also represented the Romanian Orthodox Church in London as President of the Church for several years, and actively promoted tourism and interest in Romania at the University of Cambridge with both professors and students alike, traveling and arranging tours of the Churches and Monasteries throughout the Romanian countryside. He is survived by two daughters, Alexandra and Marina, and his only granddaughter Yasmin. The funeral service will be held on October 16 at 14:00 at St Giles Church, Cambridge, England, and afterwards at the Main Hall, Magdalene College. The family will immediately after travel to Romania and a funeral service will be held on October 20 in Curtea de Arges, Pitesti, while burial will take place in the family Mausoleum. The family is raising donations benefiting dementia ward G6 at Addenbrooke’s Hospital. Donations can be made payable to ACT may be sent c/o H. J. Painting Ltd, 43 High Street, Linton, Cambridge. CB21 4HS. Armand Calinescu was a politician and economist who served as Romania's Prime Minister and National Defense Minister in 1939. Prior to that, he was a member of the Parliament, and held different positions in various ministries. He fought against the Iron Guard, an extremist movement. The Iron Guard ended up controlling the country's Government in 1940, a year after they assassinated Armand Calinescu. editor@romania-insider.com (photos: Calinescu Family archive)