On the afternoon of Saturday, 18 April 2026, former Mayor of Eleios-Pronnoi Andreas Zapantis delivered an exceptionally interesting and historically significant briefing in English to the British and Greek organizers of the planned memorial event for the British submarine HMS Perseus. The event is scheduled for Friday, 19 June 2026, in Poros, Kefalonia.
At a well-known café in Poros, Mr. Zapantis recounted in detail his long-standing and decisive contribution to highlighting and promoting the story of the submarine Perseus. From his time as President of Skala, throughout his tenure as Mayor of Eleios-Pronnoi, and in the years that followed, he worked systematically to bring the subject to national and international attention. His efforts even reached the point of attracting interest from Universal Pictures for a potential film production.
The former mayor particularly highlighted the valuable support of local businessman Makis Totolos, who played a key role in the construction of the HMS Perseus Memorial in Poros. He also contributed to the organization of the first major gathering in 2000, which brought together descendants of the submarine’s crew, Kefalonian patriots who helped the sole survivor John Capes, and other notable figures.
Present at the meeting, besides Andreas Zapantis and Makis Totolos, were Poros Kefalonia President Odysseas Galiatsatos (one of the Greek organizers), who received warm praise from the British organizers for his significant contribution to preparing the June events; Giorgos Gkiafis, well known for his strong interest in this history; and the tireless administrators of the HMS Perseus Facebook page – Stuart Perry, Helen Harrison, Dianne Seddon, Keith Seddon, and the undersigned – who have also taken on the task of locating relatives connected to the story.
Mr. Zapantis further informed those present that in the coming months, ahead of the major memorial events planned for 19 June 2026, he intends to publish additional unique historical documents concerning the sinking of the submarine Perseus off the southern coast of Kefalonia, as well as the incredible rescue and evacuation of John Capes from occupied Kefalonia.
By Spiros Kagadis
Please watch the relevant video featuring Andreas Zapantis’s historic briefing in English on my YouTube channel here:
https://youtu.be/WxQGtzn2MLQ?feature=shared
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