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Oral history recording with Michela Bath who was born in Shrewsbury but her parents and grandparents were from Foggia in Puglia. Recorded as part of the Italian Memories in Wales project (2008-10), delivered by ACLI-ENAIP and funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

00.10 Michela’s maiden name is Contestabile. She was born on 14th August 1970 in Shrewsbury in Shropshire. Michela talks of her grandparents who she never met: they were from Foggia in Puglia. Her grandfather was run over by German soldiers during the Second World War in Foggia. Her paternal grandmother was a seamstress, and maternal grandfather was in the Red Cross. Her parents had a happy childhood, even though they didn’t have a lot of money. Her paternal grandfather died at a young age, so her paternal grandmother worked; she made shoes and had a sweet shop in the house. 04.33 Michela remembers the food on holidays back to Italy, as well as the loving attitude of the people. She describes her grandparents’ house in the older part of town. She describes the town and u’ strusch, local dialect for the stroll that locals carry out to see and be seen in the town. She recalls that there were two different parks- one for girls to meet, one for boys to meet. She recalls going back with her family. 07.40 Michela’s father was born in 1921; he was sent to Libya during the war and was captured there. He was sent to a Prisoner of War Camp in Scotland where prisoners were asked if they wanted to go to England, Wales or Scotland. They were given work in farms as labourers. He would be paid in cigarettes and recalled being treated well. After the war her father continued to go back and forth to Italy, on one trip he met her mother. Her mother moved to Britain and they settled in Coy De Dinas where her father worked, she describes the workers prefab houses there. Her father lived on a farm during the war when he was a prisoner. He had trouble getting work in Italy so stayed in Wales after the war where he picked up the language perfectly and found people very welcoming. 12.45 There were Italians in the area but her father mostly mixed with British people. He brought his brother in law and sister to Britain, but they returned after ten years. She recalls her father’s Italian friends. She goes on to describe her father’s work on the farm, getting food and board in return. The family welcomed him and taught him English and a few words of Welsh. He always communicated with letters when he was in the camp and after the war would send money back to his family. She tells of how her parents adapted to Wales, it was harder for her mother who was leaving her family for the first time, but she made friends and then integrated as well. They had to have their identity cards stamped at the police station whenever they moved house or made a similar change. Her parents married in Italy and were married for fifty-five years. 20.00 Her mother had said previously said that she would never leave Italy and felt badly towards the British as Foggia was targeted during the war. She talks about the situation in Foggia during the war and stories her parents would recall: Michela’s mother was only fourteen at the time and contracted typhoid due to drinking unclean water. She and her sisters were very protected and may have evacuated during the war, as rumours were spread that girls may be taken away by soldiers. The family moved to a fishing resort on the Adriatic coast. Michela describes her grandfather’s work with the Red Cross. 24.14 Michela recounts her father’s background; he left school at eleven and worked carrying bricks. She also talks of her mother’s schooling which was interrupted by the war. Her parents never complained about Mussolini, people recognised his faults and the positive effects he had on Italy before the war. Her mother and her sisters would take in sewing work to do but didn’t go out to work. Michela talks of her mother’s first impressions of Wales; the cold weather and only owning summer dresses, it was very difficult for her to start with. 29.50 The family moved to a small holding in Whitehouse, Berry just outside Welshpool. Her mother would help with the farm work and making produce. She recalls being reasonably self sufficient. Her father learnt from the owners of the farm and taught her mother. Michela talks about the difference in food and how the family coped with that. 32.40 Michela talks of how her parents spent their free time, her aunty and uncle would socialise with them when they moved over in 1952. Her father and uncle worked on farms together and then as builders together. She talks about the welcome they had and how they learnt the language; her mother never lost her Italian accent, whereas her father lost his accent completely. She talks of local dialect which she can speak a little; her parents would revert to it more in anger or emotional moments. Her parents spoke mixed Italian and English to her when she was growing up, an upbringing which she describes as Italian with a hint of English.