Born 25th December 1922. As told to Peter. Zelgoszcz 83-208, Starogard Gdanski, Poland. Father Franciszek, Mother Anastazja z domu Nagorska. This was a German issued birth certificate from 1942.
Bothers & Sisters:
1936 School : Szkola Powszechna in Tczew until 1936. Gimnazium Ogolnoksztalczsce Tczew. 16 years old in class 3. Tczew. Just before the war started.
World War II
Labour camp in Oschen, now Oon, near Kwydziz for about a year.
Attended Berufschule in Tczew until 1943
December 1943, aged 21 conscripted to the German army occupying France in the Haute Savoie, Annecy. Montefont or similar
Taken prisoner by the French and joined the Polish volunteers in Annecy formed by Captain Blum. Moved to Italy under Gerenal Anders 2nd Polish Corps.
Landed in Napoli and interned.
Matera then studied in Alessano (matura), Trade administration Gimnazium Handlowe
Arrived Liverpool 1945, Shudy camp, the ship named Queen of Bermuda
Some details of the camps are provided by Zosia Biegus here. Moved camp to Liceum Handlowe (Trade School), Fowlmere, near Cambridge School report 25.3.1947. Very well behaved and good in Religion. Curiously Polish and English language was ‘Satisfactory’
Goldalming. School PKPR. Kettering, England. Demobbed from the Polish army. Arrived Derby in 1946. Leaving certificate from the Polish Trade School.
1947. took ONC and HNC in chemistry until 195?. March. 195? Pontypool – British Nylon Spinner for 2 months. From 18-Nov-1957
- 20.5.1948. Member of the Polish Combatants Association. This card shows membership payments 1954 through 1956
- 34 Stepping Lane March 1949
- 24-3-1951 Married to Zdzislawa
- 1952-Sep at 328 Normanton Road, Derby. National Certificate Exams at Derby Technical college
- 1955 July 2nd birth of Mieczyslaw
- 1956 at 93 Oxford Street studying at the Derby & District College of Technology
- 1955-Nov-10: Contracted to work at British Celanese
- 1957-Sep-24: Notified of redundancy from British Celanese
- 1957-Nov-18: Contracted to BTR (British Thermoplastics &l Rubber) earning £3217 pa working 37.5 hours at Burton on Trent, Staffordshire.
- 1957 if not earlier at 7a Vernon Street, Derby
- 1957 November 27th birth of Peter
- 1961 December 24th birth of Andrew.
- 1963.5.17 Collision. Still at 7a
- 1963-4 Attending Burton upon Trent Technical College studying Rubber Tech
- Driving Austin 1100 BGW 783B
- 1968-Feb-20 BTR Silvertown. Ford Cortina 1300 2 door de-luxe saloon TGT 670F ended up with 74269 miles, handing back the Austin 1100 BGW 783B
- 1970-May-21 BTR again new Ford Cortina 1600 DGX 238H
- 1971-March BTR Salary now £2100
- 1975-June unsuccessful application to Hi-flex International as Senior Sales Rep in Salisbury. It seems Hi Flex was a part of BTR in Salisbury. Living at 7a Vernon Street as on the envelope
- 1976-Jun-17 BTR Didn’t get a job as Product Manager (Pipe Seals)
- 1978-Aug-1 BTR Salary increased to £4250
- 1979-Jul BTR Salary £5000
- 19?? Left BTR for Woodville Polymer
- 1987-Sep-12. Report of a car accident, which was the only one as stated in Dec 1988 in his six years with Woodville
- 1988 Retired from Woodville Polymer
- 1988-May to September: Agreed 70-days Consultancy @£50 per day. Sierra C323 TUY sold to dad for £1
- 1988-Jun-17: Rover 216 E274 DEA.
12 October 2000. Awarded the Kawalerskim Orderu Zaslugi Rzeczpospolitiej Polskiej at the Consulate General in London
19 May 2003. Invited to St James Palace to meet Prince Charles
Aged 24: 6-Nov-1947
Workplace From Celanese to BTR and Woodville Polymer in Burton on Trent.
Awards Always up for a gong or a chance to hob nob with important people, though no less so than mum to be fair. But, he deserved the recognition. Bless him.
He put in a lot of effort to the Polish Saturday School in Derby.
He was active in every part of the Polish community, including the church choir, where he sang and was Treasurer for a bit.
