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Oral history recording with Domenico Casetta. Recorded as part of the Italian Memories in Wales project (2008-10), delivered by ACLI-ENAIP and funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Part 4 of 6 (AV 11367 - AV 11372)

00:00:00 The interviewer asks Domenico if he knew a lot of the Italian community in Wales. He explains that he came to know a lot of people through his work as Vice Consul in Cardiff. Domenico notes that most of the Italians in the country are based in or around Cardiff, in particular people from the Emilia Romagna region, who set themselves up in the café and restaurant trade. After the Second World War, however, Italians came over as prisoners of war and were then sent out to work on local farms. They were also recruited in Italy for tinplate works and iron ore and coal mines. Domenico explains that they had to work for four years before they were able to change to a better job. Many Italians went on to start up their own businesses, which were often very successful. Domenico then explains that when he first arrived in Wales he socialised almost exclusively with Italians. However when he started his career in architecture he became friends with Welsh and English people, who then went introduced him cricket and rugby.

00:34:06 When the interviewer asks Domenico how he met his wife Lorraine, he tells the story of how he met the girl who was to become his wife at an evening mass on the first of January 1956. When they left the mass they stopped to chat and started to see each other more often until they were married. The interviewer asks Domenico if these mixed marriages were common or accepted. He responds that in his day they were considered normal, as there were a high number of Italian immigrants.