On October 2, 1924, at the age of 18, Lazaros Pempes and his brother Theologos, who was only 9 years old, had to leave Sinasos with their aunts, Makryna and Elisavet. They settled in Aigaleo and were both forced to work in order to survive. The two brothers experienced horrible conditions and a hostile family environment, circumstances which were particularly hard on Theologos who was still very young. Lazaros did various jobs until he was hired at the Tsotras Liquor Company in Aigaleo where he learned the craft of distillery. After the Second World War, he opened his own distillery in Aigaleo. Lazaros fell on hard times, doing odd jobs and running errands, until he started working as a carpenter and then as a mechanic in car repair shops, before finally working for Biamax, a leading manufacturer in the Greek bus- and lorry-building industry.
Despite the adversities they faced, through hard work and determination the two brothers managed to rebuild their lives, start their own household, get married and have families. They were always very close and shared all their sorrows and joys. Lazaros’ niece, Vaso Pempe, remembers how during these moments of joy the sound of the tambourine that Lazaros had brought over from Sinasos would carry through his house. ‘Uncle Lazaros loved a good party and his house was always open’, she says. When Lazaros’ second wife gave the tambourine to Vaso as a gift, she remembered all these feasts and parties that had brought the family together. Vaso Pempe donated the tambourine to the museum of the ‘Nea Sinasos’ Association because, despite its low value and poor condition, she considers it a precious object which can remind people of joy and hope.
