Radoslaw
Me, my wife and our son have been living in Birmingham for two years now. We are working for local companies our son is a pupil of one of local schools. We are happy than ever before to live and work here. We have bought a house that is very unilkey to happen if we were still in Poland. We have found our British neighbours very friendly as well as people we are working with.
We are hoping to spend at least next 5 years in Britain or maybe even retire here. All the best to Polish community in West Midlands.
Cheers
Rad
Babeta
I've lived in brum all my life too, i never knew any of this
Ola
To be honest I dont feel like Im in other country. People treat me well. I feel as English as Polish. But that doesnt mean that i wanna be more English. I know im Polish and I dont wanna change it. I really happy with that.
Ian Payne
My Mother-In-Law was President of the Polish Community in Stoke-On-Trent for many years and I go to Poland quite a bit to see my wife's family. I am glad the Polish community are giving themsleves a greater profile in the Midlands. It is the second coming of Poles in many respects. My In-Laws were the first coming after WW 2. At present I am trying to get a blue plaque put up in London in tribute to the life and career of Polish Countess Krystana Skarbek [Christine Granville]. She worked for the Polish section of SOE during WW2 and was known as Sir Winstons Churchills favourite spy. Countess Krystana travelled all through Europe engaging herself in various covert missions to disrupt the NAZI hold over Europe. She received various medals for her bravery after WW2 from the French and British, but the Post-War World was not kind to Countess Krystana. After a period working in shipping etc, she was sadly stalked and murdered by her lover in the early 1950's. She sadly died outside her former home - a hostel for Polish and Eastern European workers in London - now a small hotel. I have also put on exhibitions in BUCKS about the Polish free army in the UK and the role of General Sikorski. My first was in Buckingham in 1997 about the wartime MP for Buckingham who died in the fatal plane crash with Sikorski in the early 1940's off the Gibralter coast. The main exhibition I did was at Chalfont St Peter in BUCKS in 1999 about the Polish and Czech SOE officers who were secretly trained in a camp there to engage in covert missions to occupied Eastern Europe.
The locals thought they were refugees from Eastern Europe being given temporary sanctuary. Chalfont St Peter eventually became famous for the place where the BBC part filmed the popular legendary sitcom DADS ARMY. TO ALL THE POLES COMING TO THE UK IN C21ST - KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK !!!! Ian & Liz Payne [LICHFIELD]
raj
hi, i was looking for any polish tradesman who does carpentry and plumbing works around birmingham
Mati
I would like to invite all Polish people living in a Birmingham area to come to Polish Books Fair, which will take place on the 25th of February in Polish Catholic Centre Millennium House Bordesley Street Digbeth Birmingham. Please come and get yourself good books in Polish language!
Kasia
I love it here! I'm a qualified English teacher, anybody need any help with their English? contact: kahna7@hotmail.co.uk
Dana Broad
My parents are Polish and came over after WWII. I was born in 1952. I rememeber St Micheals so well. The church was always full when I was a child in fact I can remember many a time when we had to stay outside during Mass as there was not enough room inside for us all. My parents who are now in the 80's still like to attend Polish mass but the clock has turned full circle and there has been many a time in the last two when there has not been enough room for them inside the Church. My parents generation,have attended St Mickeals for 60 years feel that are unable to attend polish mass - what a shame! However, I am really happy that the polish community now has this much needed shot! It does mean that I can go out and buy 'Bigos' etc and it is good to think that the Polish Club will survive and florish although perhaps in a different way in the future.
john
This is really interesting - I have lived in brum all my life and didn't know about some of this.
Drew
Handsworth is a great place for Poles
Megan
Living in the Handsworth area i am familiar with many polish faces, some at my local! I find that the polish people i have met are polite, and reserved. Handsworth is a strong multicultural community and we will always embrace a new face!
gavin corfield
This is a great feature on how some poles are making a better life for themselves in the uk. Having lived and worked in wroclaw poland for 2 years myself, i can see why so many poles come to the uk to work. it good to see so many polish communities springing up all around the uk...they can only make our country a better place to life in my opinion.
