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Oral history recording in English with Antonietta Morris. 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 1 of 2 (AV 11445-11446)

00:00:25 Antonietta Maria Morris, born Morelli at Bridgend general hospital on 23rd February 1958. She only knew her maternal grandmother who she describes as cantankerous and who spoke no English. Antonietta was taken to Italy to be looked after by her grandmother when she was born until she was three or four so Italian was her first language. She only remembers snippets of that time; the annual killing of the pig which she remembers. They had a small holding and lived close to the mountains. The community was close, which is something she always remembers and plans to return as soon as possible. When her parents got married and had Antonietta they worked and bought their first house in Llanharan for £200 cash and returned to Italy to get her.

00:05:45 Antonietta’s mother worked long hours, night shifts as an auxiliary for the local hospital. Her father worked in the Iron Ore mine and was recruited in Wales. Her mother was one of seven children; six of them went to America as did her grandmother, she came to Wales with sponsors from an Italian run cafe in Cardiff. Her parents grew up in south Italy in the Caserta province; Santa Croce and Pietramelara. Though they knew each other, they moved to Wales separately and married here. A of people were moving at the time as there was a lot of poverty; they had fruit and a small range of livestock during the war. Her grandfather was killed in Montecassino so her grandmother had to bring up the children on her own.

00:11:28 Religion was very important to the family in Italy; she recalls the priest who was very strict but respected. She also recalls the religious festivals and processions in detail. The community was very close, everybody knew each other and looked out for each other.

00:17:43 The family went back at least once a year, less as they got older. When she was about ten she went to America to live with her parents. They came back when she was thirteen. The Italian community in America and that in Italy were very similar- it was like little Italy though Antonietta preferred the community in Wales as they integrated. In America there were pockets of different communities whereas in Wales everybody was welcome in their house. Both of her parents were very well liked in the community. In America her father was homesick for Wales. His brother was in Wales. The community in Wales was friendly and they were never isolated. Her mother maintained that she would make herself understood and would take Antonietta to Llanharan and get to know people; people responded to her open mindedness.

00:22:28 Her home was very open and friendly; both parents were very kind. Her father’s experience was different as his brother was in Wales so he had contacts. He and his brother were good looking and would get into trouble with the Welsh boys because the Welsh girls liked them. They worked hard in the mines; her father as blaster which was dangerous work.

00:27.22 Her father made his own wine and had an allotment in Wales where the family would all work. They would go to Cardiff for grapes for the wine and the put them in a wine press, it was a big family affair. When her father had the ice cream van they would go to the fruit market in Cardiff. They were a very united family.