In an earlier KTLN history article, on 31st May 2011, we brought you an insight into Mustafa Kocakaya.

He is one of only three local people who have had a Kalkan street named after them.

In this article we take a look at one of the others, in words and images - Hasan Altan.

Hasan Altan was the first headteacher at Mustafa Kocakaya Primary School, in the 1930's and 1940's.  He developed a reputation in this region of Turkey as a brilliant educator, and he was well known and respected. 

It is believed that he and his family came from the nearby island of Meis in 1927. 

Below: Hasan Altan, (right). with his students at Mustafa Kocakaya school.  We wonder if any of our Turkish friends know any of the children in this photo. Please tell us if you do.

He was a hardworking and dedicated man.  Hasan Altan would probably be regarded now as a disciplinarian, and he was undoubtedly a trusted, and much loved figure in the local community.  

That is probably because he was not only an effective teacher for his students, but he was also seen as a guiding light for Kalkan families.

Many families would share their table with him in the evenings, and he would impart interesting historical stories and poems.  He would also offer general advice and guidance to local people.  In this way, his students were in fact generations of Kalkan people, all eager to listen, and learn from this knowledgeable man.

Below: Hasan Altan, with trademark bow tie, attending a ceremony in Kalkan.  We would love to know who the young boy is, bottom left.

He always wore his trademark bow tie, which was regarded as a sign of being an 'intellectual', in those times.  You certainly would not have seen many bow ties in Kalkan then.  (They are not too many around now, come to think of it).

His name as one of Kalkan's best loved intellectuals lives on, with a street named in his honour.  His work was at the heart of the community, so it is fitting that the street named in his honour, is in the heart of the old town.

Hasan Altan Caddesi goes from the Moonlight bar, down the hill, past Merkez cafe, and right down as far as the Culture House and Terrazzo restaurant.

The next time you walk down the hill, take a moment to remember that generations of Kalkan residents benefited from his wise words.

Kalkan Turkish Local News would like to thank Ergun Duran and the Kalkander Association, for their contribution to this article.

Please respect copyright, and do not copy these images.

Would you like to help us with our history project? 
Working with local people, and others interested in the subject, we are pulling together facts and photos from Kalkan's history.

Do you have local stories from the last century, or old photos?  Click here for more details: KTLN Kalkan History Project

Kalkan Turkish Local News - your window on Kalkan Turkey