John Antat Jan 10 2013 Extract 3

Professor Tim Niblock has lived in Exeter since 1978, and has a unique perspective on Exeter’s Arab and Muslim populations. He was interviewed by Nazima Khan and Ghee Bowman on 14th January 2013.

Tim Niblock Extract 1

Fatma Saeed came to Exeter from Sudan in 1983, as the wife of the third Imam of Exeter’s mosque. She was interviewed on 26th December  2012 by Nazima Khan and Mona Hassan.

Fatma Saeed Extract 1

Ayşe Kuzu was born in Turkey, and came to Exeter as a refugee in 2000. She was interviewed by Richard Bradbury & Anita Nathwani on 8th March 2013 as part of the project Telling our Stories Finding our Roots http://www.tellingourstoriesexeter.org.uk/

Ayse Kuzu Extract 1

Ayse Kuzu Extract 3

Ayse Kuzu Extract 5

Ayse Kuzu Extract 2

George Walker was born in Newtown, Exeter, in 1930, and has lived here ever since then.  Ghee Bowman and Crystal Carter interviewed him at his house on 8th October 2013.

George Walker Extract 5

George Walker Extract 3

George Walker Extract 9

Mohammed Abdullah, Shahidur Rahman, and Sayed Masuad Ali are three of the founders of Exeter mosque. They are all British Bangaldeshis from Sylhet, who came to Exeter in the late 60s and early 70s. Nazima Khan and Mona Hassan interviewed them on 28th January 2013 at Exeter Mosque.

Mosque Founders Extract 1

Mosque Founders Extract 4

Mosque Founders Extract 3

Mosque Founders Extract 6

Mosque Founders Extract 5

Sue Evens was born in Exeter in 1950, and has lived there ever since. Her mother was Mrs Hendy, who came from the first black family in Cornwall. Ghee Bowman and Crystal Carter interviewed Sue at her house on 13th March 2013 as part of the project Telling our Stories, Finding our Roots http://www.tellingourstoriesexeter.org.uk/

Sue Evens Extract 6

Sue Evens Extract 3

Sue Evens Extract 1

Sue Evens Extract 5

Sue Evens Extract 4

Sue Evens Extract 7

Sue Evens Extract 2

Maurice Hawker was born in Exeter in 1934, and still lives in Exeter. Ghee Bowman & Crystal Carter interviewed him and his wife Ruth on 4th November 2013 as part of the project Telling our Stories, Finding our Roots, Exeter’s Multi-Coloured History http://www.tellingourstoriesexeter.org.uk/

Maurice Hawker Extract 1

Maurice Hawker Extract 2

An interview about a  new Devon-based multicultural history project in the towns of Ilfracombe and Honiton

BBC Radio Devon Interview Telling Our Stories, Finding Our Roots

Ghee Bowman's interview about Telling Our Stories, Finding Our Roots with Radio Devon

Ghee Walking Tour Interview 24 2 24.MP4

Kumari Northam was born in Sri Lanka and, after a period spent in Hong Kong, Kumari and her family have now settled in Tiverton. She runs a mobile catering business in Tiverton, catering to local customers and events.

In the first extract [00:00:00 - 00:00:17], Kumari introduces herself and her heritage.

In the second extract [00:00:19 - 00:00:32], Kumari explains the meaning of her name.

In the third extract [00:00:35 - 00:01:08], Kumari remembers her life, from working in a factory in Sri Lanka to meeting her husband in Hong Kong.

In the fourth and final extract [00:01:12 - 00:03:17], Kumari talks about her family's decision to move from Hong Kong to the UK. She also recalls her decision to start her own business.

Kumari Northam Interview Highlights

Peter Colman worked at the local Heathcoat Yarns factory where he was apprenticed to Danilo Maglov, a European Voluntary Worker from present-day Croatia who settled permanently in Tiverton after WWII.

In his interview, he talks about his memories of Danilo (Danny), including his reluctance to talk about his experience during the war in Yugoslavia, his skill at card games, and his frequent practical jokes.

Peter Colman talking about his colleague, Danilo Maglov (Full Interview)

James Richard Halsey was born in July 1946 in Hertfordshire. He is the President of the Exeter Hebrew Congregation. Richard reflected in great detail about a range of aspects of Jewish life, from friends and parents of friends who escaped from Europe before the Second World War, to the particulars of Jewish humour and daily life. Looking forward, he says:

“In the future, we need to look to people […] to carry on what we do.”

In Richard’s interview, he also talks about the distance some congregants travel to the synagogue, taking services, different branches of Judaism, and prayer practices.

Richard Halsey Full Interview

Mrs C is British-Filipino. She is a secondary school English teacher, who moved to Devon aged 12, from the Philippines. She now lives in Okehampton with her husband and daughters.

In the first extract [00:00:00 - 00:02:58], Mrs C remembers arriving in the UK, and the Filipino community that she found in Devon.

In the second extract [00:03:00 - 00:08:51], Mrs C discusses the discrimination she experienced as a young woman , particularly when applying for work.

In the third extract [00:08:53 - 00:09:38], Mrs C remarks on the community and diversity she sees in Okehampton.

In the fourth and final extract [00:09:43 - 00:12:39], Mrs C talks about her identity and that of her daughters.

Mrs C Interview Highlights

Carol Williamson was born in Trinidad and came to the UK to study at the age of 17. She lives with her husband on their family farm. Carol has a son and daughter very nearby, and another daughter living in Trinidad. 

Carol remembers her resolve in adapting to a new life in the UK, learning new skills as a young adult, and facing the challenges of becoming a foster carer. She describes how:

“They all said you can’t possibly cope and I thought: of course I can”. 

In her interview, Carol talks about life on her husband’s family farm; becoming a foster parent; visiting family and helping with the family business in Tobago; and the West Indian lifestyle.

Carol Williamson Full Interview

Anna Georghiou was born in Torquay. Her paternal grandparents came to the UK from Cyprus in the 1960s. Anna now lives and works as an artist ​and holistic therapist in Okehampton, after attending university and living and working for a period in Cyprus.

In the first extract [00:00:00 - 00:01:42], Anna talks about trying to balance the two central parts of her cultural identity, 'Cypriotness' and 'Englishness'.

In the second extract [00:01:44 - 00:03:30], Anna discusses the importance of embracing cultural heritage, and her father's difficulties embracing his own cultural identity in the UK.

In the third and final extract [00:03:33 - 00:06:31], Anna relates her first impressions of Okehampton upon arriving in the town.

Anna Georghiou Interview Highlights

Ann Zielonka is a part time Health Visitor living in Sheffield. She is currently researching her father, Antoni’s, story. Antoni was in the Polish Navy during the Second World War and spent several periods of time in the Okehampton Naval Camp: both for training and in its later form as a resettlement camp. He seemed, to Ann, to be very comfortable in Devon, although he did not speak often of his time there.

Ann says of her father:

“He didn’t mix with the Polish people in Wolverhampton, he didn’t mix with the Ukranians, he never took us to Ukranian Club, and he never took us to Polish Club – and that’s a great sadness.  So I’m making up for it now”.

Ann is, herself, learning Ukranian. 

In her interview, Ann talks about her research surrounding the Okehampton Camp, her father’s moonlighting work in Okehampton, the post-war Resettlement Act and treatment of Allied soldiers, and her father’s life in the UK after the war.

Ann Zielonka Full Interview

Ann Zielonka is a part time Health Visitor living in Sheffield. She is currently researching her father, Antoni’s, story. Antoni was in the Polish Navy during the Second World War and spent several periods of time in the Okehampton Naval Camp: both for training and in its later form as a resettlement camp.

In the first extract [00:00:00 - 00:01:09], Ann discusses her father's decision to join the navy.

In the second extract [00:01:11 - 00:02:15], Ann talks about her father's Naval training and his 'moonlighting' at other jobs at the time. 

In the third extract [00:02:18 - 00:04:46], Ann considers her father's knowledge of several different languages and cultures, and his desire to be considered English.

In the fourth and final extract [00:04:48 - 00:06:32], Ann talks about finally being able to contact family in Poland and Ukraine, and taking lessons in Ukrainian to allow her to translate letters.

Ann Zielonka Interview Highlights

Adam Hassan is an A-Level student, who moved to Okehampton from Egypt around three years prior to his interview. He is hoping to study Computer Science and Mathematics at university, before going into Finance.

In the first extract [00:00:00 - 00:01:56], Adam talks about growing up bilingual and some of his initial difficulties conversing with native English speakers.

In the second extract [00:01:59 - 00:04:14], Adam discusses the benefits and restrictions he finds in living in Okehampton.

In the third extract [00:04:17 - 00:05:50], Adam talks about sharing religious traditions (such as Ramadan) with his school friends.

In the fourth and final extract [00:05:51 - 00:06:54], Adam looks forward to moving to university, but anticipates the challenges leaving Okehampton might hold for him.

Adam Hassan Interview Highlights

Adam Hassan is an A-Level student, who moved to Okehampton from Egypt around three years prior to this interview. He is hoping to study Computer Science and Mathematics at university, before going into Finance.

Adam was initially surprised by the welcoming reception he received from his peers when arriving in Okehampton, who have since become firm friends. Since arriving, he has gone on to become the Head Boy of his college, where he aims to inspire and nurture aspiration in his classmates. Adam describes how he hopes that listeners in the future will:

 “Be open to people from different places”.

In his interview, Adam talks about the differences between life in Egypt and the UK; adapting to a change of country and culture; diversity in Okehampton; sharing his culture with new friends; and his aspirations and hopes for the future.

Adam Hassan Full Interview

Bush stories are traditional tales passed down through generations of South African tribe members and residents. Often, they take the form of parables designed to convey a moral message or truth of nature. Here, Gail shares seven bush stories: the tale of the hippopotamus; of dogs and their tails; the tale of a young man and a snake; the Ranger’s revenge; the marula tree; the Hadeda bird; and the talking stick.

Gail's Bush Stories

Telling Our Stories Finding Our Roots is a community heritage and oral history project and a resource for multicultural education.

Our aim is to find, share and celebrate the hidden histories of Devon and Exeter’s diverse and multicultural communities – past and present. One of the ways we do this is through oral history interviews.

The project is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Visit our websites at www.tellingourstoriesdevon.org.uk and www.tellingourstoriesexeter.org.uk .

Telling Our Stories Finding Our Roots

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