Z1205/170

Male. Interpreter. Yugoslavian immigrant. Charity worker. b. 28.08.1928 SIDE A (00 mins)Born in an industrial town in the south of Yugoslavia near the border with Greece and Bulgaria. He was youngest of 3 children. The sister died in fire when young and he never knew her. He had a brother. Family had a vineyard outside the town. Their home was one floor and a cellar - Balkan-style, with a veranda. 4 bedrooms. Father was a specialist in venereal diseases and his was a midwife. (05 mins)Once a week surgery at home then father visited bordellos, twice a week, on behalf of the council. His parents argued about his work. His mother maintained that he brought sexual delinquents to their home. Father drank a lot. They split up, pre-Second World War. Despite this, he had a happy childhood and used to go fishing all the time in the river. Very hot summers. Remembers the war starting. Went to the Gymnasia (grammar school). The Germans invaded and occupied Yugoslavia. His town was bombed. 50-60 people died. German soldiers gave sweets they'd stolen from another town to local children. If any of their soldiers were shot by locals they would have vendetta killings of 10 locals, then it got to 100 Yugoslavs for every German killed. (10 mins)He understood German because he had to learn it at school but spoke Serbo-Croat normally. He lived with his father but his mother was living in the same street. He was a Royalist. The local partisans were communist. The German then decided to take hostages instead of killing. He was taken to Germany, aged 14 ½ yrs as a "gestarbeiten" (guest worker)to join a labour gang. He worked in Berlin in an ammunition factory. He pretended that he didn't speak much. (15 mins)He was in Germany for four months and then sent back to Yugoslavia. His father and brother were killed. The Germans then turned their back and went to fight Croatia and then Italians. He offered to help the British, when they arrived. (20 mins)Joined British Army for two years and joined military police in Italy. Picked up Italian language. Arrived in Cambridge when 8th. Army disbanded. Given civilian clothes. (25 mins)A woman English teacher (Mrs. or Prof Hasketh?) arranged for him to do a course in English at Cambridge University for ex-soldiers for 9 months with 15 Yugoslavs and couple of Poles. He liked it but wanted to earn some money. Wanted to support his mother in Yugoslavia who was denied a pension because of her Royalist support. (Has rev-visited Yugoslavia many times, each year, over the last 10 years.) Moved to Kempston Hardwick hostel in December 1947 at worked in the brickworks in Stewartby for London Brick Company. (30 mins)Worked on the press and maintaining it. Earned £4.50 per week. Hard work. Went on to piecework. Attended Mander College in Harpur Square, next to Bedford Modern School, before it moved to the river site. (32 mins)End of Side A SIDE B (00 mins)Studied English. Left brick company in 1952 or 53. Lived in Tavistock Street, Queens Park. Opened a business called "Petit Grotto" - a small coffee bar. He bought the freehold and rented it to Italians. Opened a translating office in Harpur Street. Became good at court work. (05 mins)Had some difficult and unpleasant cases. Interpreted for about 32 years in local courts for Italians, Czechs, Poles and Yugoslavs. Got married but later divorced. Has been featured in local newspapers about 20 times over recent years, from 1991, taking charitable relief to those suffering from recent warfare in Yugoslavia. He knew Bosnia from the second World war period. Has both British and Yugoslav passports. Saw his Mother for first time after war, in 1967. (10 mins)Experiences revisiting Yugoslavia. (15 mins)Serbian / Bosnian history. Helping children, irrespective of background. (20 mins)Has been collecting money in Silver Street for 7 years, in aid of his Yugoslavian aid trips. Goes over 8 or 9 times a year with nappies and second-hand clothes. Things getting better in Yugoslavia. (25 mins)Is now getting too old for it. Physically and emotionally draining. How much he has raised and how much it cost to travel. (30 mins)Thinking of moving to Yugoslavia and teaching English. Has 3 daughters here, all married. 3 granddaughters. Would like to die in his home town. (32 mins)End of Side B CONTINUED ON CS170C2 SIDE A (00 mins)England is not as it was 10 years ago but the English are very fair. They do care but they don't show it. Young people are more outspoken now, sometime overdoing it. Childish behaviour like football hooligans. (05 mins)The English have forgotten hard times. Yugoslavs have just had it again. They had it in 1941-1945, then under communism. Now they have had a civil war. Would like to return to Yugoslavia to spend his last days with his family. But he has daughters in England. He talks and thinks in English. He is looked up to as a father figure by his cousins when he is in Yugoslavia. (10 mins)End of Side A END OF INTERVIEW. Original Interview 80 mins.

25 October 2002

From: 1925 To: 2002

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