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Mana Kaur is Educational Project Officer for Views From Shropshire. She has collected some fascinating stories from black and minority ethnic groups - people who have arrived in Shropshire from all over the world.

Taskeshi Kawai

The project, set to run for two years, has been funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and Mana has been recording memories through workshops and one-to-one interviews.Μύ

Over time she will be building up a unique archive of stories, giving a fascinating perspective on the county.ΜύMana says: "This is essentially a community project which is about bringing people together from different backgrounds to talk and learn from one another and in the process voicing memories and experiences from people who are often hidden from history."

People who have contributed include Chinese, Japanese, West Indian, Polish, South Asian and many more. Life stories come from economic migrants, entrepreneurs, students and refugees.

Back in India

Eulin Drummond who came to Shropshire from the West Indies explains: "It felt so liberating and rewarding to have someone listen to you and to know that my life history will be captured in history... I think this is so important because people like me help pave the way for others to follow, in spite of all the prejudice and misconceptions."

All the accounts collected will be permanently archived and used in a community exhibition and book as well as for educational materials for schools and youth groups.

Some of the contributors

Cheiko Shove came to Shropshire and fell in love with the quiet rural peace.

Mary Lu came here from Taiwan with her husband. She loves the gardens and the space in Bridgnorth and thinks it was a fine place to bring up her children.

Pal Verdie came to England in the 1960s and trained as a nurse, before going on to work as a midwife in Shropshire.

Rashpal Singh is originally from the Punjab although now he says he feels more at home in Shropshire.

Verley Brissett comes from Jamaica, and was the first member of his family to go to university. He runs the local steel band.