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Archiver > ANGLO-ITALIAN > 2003-06 > 1055363607


From: "Mrs Julie Goucher" <>
Subject: [Anglo-Italian] More Italians in Woking
Date: Wed, 11 Jun 2003 21:33:27 +0100


Following on from this mornings email.

The Italian population became established during the
1950s and 1960s, however, upon doing some research
for the Orlando one name study, I established that there
was a reference to the name of Orlando in Woking as
early as 1901.

Italians, during the 1950s-60s were still regarded as
"alien" in the UK and had to report to the local police.
Surrey police have no records for this period - they were
all destroyed following the Home Office decision to
no longer record "aliens" living in the UK...this
occurred circa 1973.

The Woking community is fairly well established
and it would be well worth contacting the priest at
the Catholic church there. I do have the address
somewhere, but I am fairly sure that I have seen the
details on the Society web page. A few years
ago, a student at Royal Holloway College
did a study on the Woking Italian Community
for her thesis, I tried to contact her last year, through
the University, but have never recieved a reply, which
is a great shame.

The mushroom farms in the area, did keep reasonable
records, and about 15 years ago I contacted a farm
called Darlington, who have either folded or changed
their name. However, there was certainly, lots of Italians
and Sicilians employed at the farm. I will see if I can find
the name of the farm now and they may well be able to help.

Why Woking? This I have often wondered, but perhaps
you may know the answer? It is not a particular striking area,
about 25 mins by train to London Waterloo and about 10 miles
from Guildford. There was a prisoner of war camp at Merrow
Downs, which may have been home to Italians captured during
the war years, and this may have been the catalysis for the
community becoming more established.

I hope this has helped, and as the Woking community is of
specific interest to me for this period I will post further info
to the list and/or the Italian Roots (Journal for the Anglo Italian
Society)

--
Regards,
Julie Goucher

Anglers Rest Home Page http://freespace.virgin.net/anglers.rest/index.htm
Anglo Italian FHS www.anglo-italianfhs.org.uk
Fax & Voice Mail (+44) 0870 130 5474

ORLANDO One Name Study ~ GOONS Member 3925




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