It was the year the first Chelsea Flower Show was held, when Emily Dawson became the first female magistrate and news reached Britain of Captain Scott’s fatal expedition to the South Pole.

Meanwhile, in Kingston, Italian immigrant Antonio Mastracola founded his ice cream business, Kingstonian Ice Cream.

The year was 1913, and now, a century on, Mr Mastracola’s relatives are celebrating 100 years in business.

Now run by his great-grandson Enrico, the Kingstonian Ice Cream vans are still a familiar sight around the borough, pitched up at the Kingston Gate of Richmond Park, and along the riverside at weekends.

Despite several factory moves and setbacks, the company has always stayed true to its Italian heritage – something Enrico Mastracola believes has been key to the family’s success.

He said: “Many older customers remember the old factory and tell stories from their childhood of going there with a plate or cup to fill up with ice cream.

“They all say how lovely it was and are never disappointed when they taste the same stuff today.

“Commitment to quality has always been and will always be part of this family business.”

Antonio Mastracola died in 1940, after which three of his seven sons – Fred, Puppy and Willy – carried on the business.

The company had pitches in Kingston town centre, by the riverside and at the Monday market, as well as travelling to Leatherhead and Epsom.

Fred Mastracola’s son Derrick joined the company in the 1960s, running the van at the Kingston gate entrance in Richmond Park.

Today, he still trades at weekends on Kingston riverside, while his son Enrico runs the business.

To celebrate the company’s centenary, Enrico plans to make 100 different flavours of ice cream throughout the year.

The company will also be giving away commemorative mugs to loyal customers.

For more information, visit Kingstonian Ice Cream’s Facebook page facebook.com/kingstonianicecream.

Continental drifting

Antonio Mastracola arrived in London from Villa Santa Lucia, Cassino, Italy, in the late 1880s.

The 1891 UK census has him registered as an ice cream vendor   living at 5 Fleet Row, Eyre Street Hill, Holborn – London’s traditional Italian quarter. 
 

In November that year he married Pasqualina Capaldi, a fellow Italian who had migrated to Kingston in 1881.
 

They had eight children, all boys, and in 1897 moved to Kingston, living at 26 Asylum Road, Norbiton.
 

The family lived in Glasgow for a few years before returning to Kingston in 1904, where Antonio ran a fish and chip shop, Joy Place, at 71 Alpha Road, Surbiton.
 

By 1911 the family had moved to 1 Cambridge Grove Road, Norbiton, and Mr Mastracola earned a living as a confectioner and
tobacconist.
 

In 1913, he founded Kingstonian Ice Cream.
 

In 1940, during a visit to White City Dog Track, Mr Mastracola  suffered a stroke and died days later at Hammersmith Hospital, on March 21.
 

His three sons, Fred, Puppy and Willy continued the business. Fred Mastracola’s son, Derrick, would later take on the Richmond Park pitch.
 

In the 1960s, Kingston Council put in a compulsory purchase order on the Kingston ice cream factory site to build flats and the factory and equipment were sold. 
 

Derrick Mastracola set up an ice cream kiosk in Eden Walk, in the town centre, and stayed there until the 1970s when redevelopment again forced him to move.
 

In the early 1980s, he opened a new ice cream factory at 2 Glenville Road, Kingston. At the same time, Derrick Mastracola’s son Enrico joined the business.
 

Today, Derrick Mastracola can still be found on Kingston riverside at weekends, while his son trades outside the Kingston Gate entrance to Richmond Park on Sundays.