Z1205/080

Yugoslav immigrant brickworker b. 01.03.1930 SIDE A (00 mins)Childhood in Yugoslavia, pre-Second World War. Agriculture. (05 mins)Extreme heat of summer and cold of winter. Wolves. Multi-lingual childhood. Family emigrated at outbreak of war. (10 mins)Moving around to avoid Russian advances, finally left Czechoslovakia for Austria. Worked as translator for Americans. Moved to England on British Government work contract. Refused to work in mines. Sent to brickyards in Bedfordshire. (15 mins)Arrive November, 1947. Lived in brickworkers hostel at Kempston Hardwick, first, then in rented accommodation in Bedford. Keen to pick up English language from locals. Worked for Marston Valley Company at Ridgmont then Marston. Worked on press then operated the excavator in the nut hole for 10 years. Left in 1969 and worked for Plysu in Woburn Sands until retirement. (20 mins)Operation of kilns - setting and drawing bricks. Pay. Attitude to foreigners of local workers. (25 mins)Married English woman. Father-in-law helped him get better job at brickworks. Acted occasionally as unofficial interpreter. (30 mins)Women workers left, as Italians brought over to increase workforce.Poles and Yugoslav workers. (32 mins)End of Side A SIDE B (00 mins)Poles good workers but tended to "drink". Yugoslavs keen on gambling. Getting used to "strange". British food habits. Motorcycling with friends to dances, etc. Moved to Cranfield. Hostel club life. (05 mins)Hostel regime and facilities. (10mins)Loss of Ridgmont chimneys (when factory demolished) was loss of major landmark for travellers on MI motorway. (15 mins)End of Side B.END OF INTERVIEW Original Interview 45 mins

10 December 2001

From: 1925 To: 2001

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immigration, brick worker, World War Two, AGRICULTURE, CHILDREN, Sun, wild animals, multicultural education, LANGUAGE, Russians, Americans, lodging houses, employment of women, Italians, Poles, Yugoslavs, games, motorcycles, DANCE, food, M1, chimneys, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Kempston Hardwick, RIDGMONT, WOBURN SANDS, CRANFIELD