A much-loved Salford ice-cream man whose kindness made a lasting impression on generations of local children has been nominated to be recognised as a Salford Hero as the city celebrates its 100th anniversary.
For many people who grew up in Salford, the sound of an approaching ice-cream van brings back memories of childhood, playing in the street and rushing outside for a treat.
For those who grew up around Irlams o’ th’ Height and the surrounding areas, it may also bring back memories of Peter Schiavo.
Known affectionately as Vinny, he was much more than an ice-cream man. He was a familiar face who knew the children on his round by name, took an interest in their lives and, according to those who remember him, often went out of his way to help families experiencing hardship.
Now, as Salford marks 100 years since becoming a city, a lifelong resident is calling for Vinny’s contribution to be recognised as part of the celebrations, nominating him as a Salford Hero.
For the person putting forward the nomination, the reasons are deeply personal.
Born in Salford in 1976 and raised in Irlams o’ th’ Height, they remember spending childhood days playing in the street and waiting for Vinny to arrive. It was a simple act of kindness during a difficult time at home that would stay with them for the rest of their life.
When their father was made redundant and their mother was struggling with her health, money was tight. For months, Vinny gave them a free ice cream every Friday.
As a child living in poverty and experiencing bullying because of it, being shown such kindness meant more than Vinny could perhaps have realised.
The person nominating him said: “When you are a child in poverty, and bullied because of it, when someone recognises that, it means so much and you never forget being shown such kindness.”
At the time, they believed Vinny had done this just for them. They later discovered that he had regularly helped other families across Salford facing similar circumstances.
For children who might otherwise have missed out on a small treat, Vinny’s kindness could make a real difference.
The person nominating him believes this was what made Vinny so special. He was a familiar face who remembered people, cared about his community and never appeared too busy to offer a kind word.
Vinny’s story is part of a wider family history of ice-cream trading in Salford.
The Schiavo family’s Vincent’s Ices business spans three generations. In July 2020, Salford Now reported on how Peter Schiavo was using the family ice-cream van to bring happiness to people living with dementia and their carers during the coronavirus pandemic.
Peter arranged special deliveries in partnership with Empowered Conversations, a project supporting people affected by dementia and their families.
Talking to Salford Now in 2020, Peter explained the personal motivation behind the initiative, saying: “Myself, my brother and sister are carers for my dad, who has vascular dementia, so I was really happy to help do something nice for other people in a similar situation.”
The deliveries brought a welcome surprise to people who had been isolated during lockdown, including Tony and Joy Watson, whom Peter regularly encountered on his usual round.
Talking to Salford Now in 2020, Peter also described his connection to the family business, saying: “It is just in my blood. I like bringing joy to people and chatting to everyone.”
His words capture something that runs through the stories people tell about the Schiavo family’s ice-cream trade. Beyond the business itself, there was a personal connection with the people they served and a desire to bring a little happiness to everyday life.
Following Vinny’s death, a social media post announcing the news was widely shared, prompting an outpouring of affection from people who remembered him from childhood and throughout their lives.
The comments reflected the strength of feeling towards a man whose presence had become part of the fabric of the community.
Among the words used by Salfordians remembering Vinny were “gentleman”, “highly respected”, “legend”, “one of Salford’s finest”, “special” and “one in a million”.
Others described him as an “unsung hero to the kids of Salford” and a man who deserved to be honoured.
For the person nominating him, these tributes demonstrate that the kindness they experienced was far from an isolated example. Vinny had made a lasting impression on countless residents, many of whom carried their memories of him into adulthood.
They said: “Vinny was such a funny and kind-hearted man, and for so much of the last century he was a massive part of Salford, someone who touched my life and that of so many others.”
They also recalled being moved to tears when they learned of his death, regretting that they had not tried to secure recognition for his generosity while he was still alive.
The nomination is an opportunity to put that right and ensure his contribution is not forgotten.
For those behind the nomination, the aim is to ensure that Salford’s history celebrates not only its buildings, institutions and prominent figures but also the ordinary people who made a difference to the lives of others.
They said: “That level of kindness is something that we should all strive for, and something so many Salford residents benefited from.”
Vinny’s contribution is remembered through the small moments that stayed with people: a free ice cream when money was short, a familiar face on the street, a conversation with a child who needed cheering up.
These gestures may not have made headlines at the time, but they helped shape the childhood memories of generations of Salford residents.
As the city celebrates its first 100 years, the nomination seeks to ensure that Vinny Schiavo’s story is part of that history.
