Poignant plight of workers far from home in Shropshire
Our recent spotlights on the European Voluntary Workers who came to Donnington to fill labour shortages in the post-war period brought back memories for former policeman Ray Heighway.
Ray, who lives at Aston-on-Clun, near Craven Arms, is now 84, and served in the police in the Shropshire and then West Mercia force for 30 years.
He says: "I found the articles very interesting and they reminded me of the time when as a young police officer I was posted to Donnington Police Station as a young probationary Constable in 1962.
"Immediately opposite the police station in Trench Road were huts that housed many men who I soon learned were from Eastern European countries, such as Latvia, Lithuania, Yugoslavia and all the other countries you mentioned.
"As someone from a farming background in rural south Shropshire, it was something of a surprise to find that I would be in quite regular contact with these people who were known as European Voluntary Workers.
"I soon learned that hardly any of them could speak English, and our dealings with them was nearly always through Mr Krsmanovic, who was in charge, and seemed to be able to speak all the languages.
"However I never really found out why these men were living here, but I soon learned that they were unable to return to their home countries."
Ray was struck by the poignant aspect of the plight of these people far from home and not able to return, and says when dealing with them found them reserved and anxious.
