Z1205/227

Male. Indian immigrant. Second-generation brick worker. b. 19.10.1945 SIDE A (00 mins)Born in a small village in the Punjab, India. His Father had a small farm growing sugar cane, cotton and fruit. They had large trees as shade for the cattle. He had four brothers and two sisters. The family belonged to the extended family and wasn't enough to support them all. Father chose to come to England because his brother had already been in Bedford, England since 1936. (05 mins)Crowded house in India because uncles and their families were living with them but couldn't afford, then, to build another house. Father was a keen wrestler and taught others. (10 mins)His Father came over to England (1953, when the interviewee was 8), leaving his family behind. He couldn't speak English and there were fewer Indians here then. (In 1964/5 the Asian Games started in Coventry and Birmingham). His Father worked in John Hopkirk's foundry until it closed down, then he moved to the brickyard in Stewartby as a bricklayer's mate. The rest of the family came over in stages. Mother and his older brother came in 1962. There was then a war between China and India and he left school and joined the army. (15 mins)His Father sent a ticket for him to go to England in July 1963. He returned to India to get married in 1967 and his wife came over 3 months after him. Then he went to India for 7 years. Family farm there now rented out. (20 mins)The family bought some more land and donated it, with £20,000, to build a hospital for the area. His marriage was arranged and he didn't see his wife until after the wedding ceremony. They saw photos of each other and wrote. They have been married since 1967. (25 mins)A middleman who knew both families arranged the marriage. He is no longer in favour of arranged marriages. He now thinks that girls and boys should know each other before they get married. (30 mins)Difficulties in adjusting to life in England when he first came over. (32 mins)End of Side A SIDEB (00 mins)Hard to start work when you don't speak the language. Fortunately, someone from his area had started at Stewartby brickworks two weeks before him and could show him where the toilets were. (05 mins)No rest facilities or cloakroom. At first there was a language barrier, then, as they picked up English, they were able to go to the shop steward with requests for improvements in working conditions. Started piece work when he was 18. (10 mins)Worked on most of the processes at the brick works. Drawing bricks from the hot chamber was the hardest work. (15 mins)In early 1970s the unions began to gain improvements in working conditions. There were 3 or 4 Asian shop stewards and some Italian shop stewards, so workers got to know what their rights were. Management improved. (20 mins)His first wage for £6.80. Downturn in brick industry from 1970s. Saw Chimney Corner and Elstow brick works shut down. Worried about redundancy. (25 mins)He now regards England as his home. He has family and friends here. He feels safer here. He has recently built a holiday home in India. He visits each year for 3 weeks during English winter. When he retires, he plans to live there for 3 months per year. His children and grand-children are here so he won't leave. (30 mins)End of Side B ORIGINAL INTERVIEW 60 mins.

15 June 2003

From: 1940 To: 2003

item

London Brick Company,
Hanson Brick Limited,
Eastwood Flettons Brick Company

brick worker, Indians, immigration, wrestling, HOUSING, LANGUAGE, Indian Army, hospitals, MARRIAGE, wages/conditions, trades unions, Italians, Punjab (India), India, STEWARTBY, China, ELSTOW, BEDFORD