Originally Posted by
LTNman
not a hint of a fence in sight to keep those bad boys inside. In fact they used to do odd jobs in the community I believe.
According to locals the Italian prisoners were to a man heartily glad to be out of the war and were totally co-operative. There was no need for fences and they readily found work in the brickworks and in the extensive agriculture and market gardening in the area, and many ahd skill or trades that were of great use in those labour-hungry times. They were well liked by the locals, not least by the females and many married and settled down to stay, hence the wonderful Italian community in Bedford to this day.
There are real, authentic Italian grocery shops, butchers, a bakery and it is said they even import a truckload of grapes every year to make real Bedfordshire Italian wine. I don't know aboout that but the groceries, fruit, veg and filled rolls they sell are fabulous.
I know one or two of the originals who are still at work.