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Bedford

1966 , Bedford (Bedfordshire)

Cat no. 206000

Anglia Television programme looking at life in the county town of Bedford.

In the 'modern, busy and boisterous' town of Bedford, one in every nine members of the population is an immigrant. Many of these individuals and families who came to Britain to build a new, more prosperous and happier life, settled in Bedford as 'accidental citizens' because that was where the work was available. The programme traces the fortunes of Bedford's large Italian community, focussing in particular on the Conte family, who moved to Britain over ten years ago with two young children. Through the Conte family - who have had two more children since emigrating - we experience Bedford's Italian community, including the home comforts of continental stores and the Italian Mission Church of Father Vico, as well as the Britannia Steel & Iron Works, who employ Mr Conte and his two eldest children, and the Circolo Italiano club who provide evening entertainment. The film covers the positive experiences of immigrant life in Bedfordshire, as well as its disadvantages, canvassing the opinions of many Italian residents. And despite its recent reputation for 'vice' (blamed partly on the non-European immigrants), Bedford is presented as a cosmopolitan town.

Featured Buildings

Italian Mission Church (now Italian Church of St Francesca Cabrini); Cicolo Italiano Leonardo da Vinci, Bedford

Keywords

Immigration; Industries

  • Production company : Anglia Television

  • Director : Harry Aldous

  • Presenter : Michael Partington

  • Script : Tony Archer

  • Camera : Ken Little

  • Sound : Derek Rye

  • Editor : Alec Wilson

Manifestations

Bedford

Copyright restrictions apply.

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