Feliks Czenkusz arrives in Saltaire
Feliks Czenkusz escaped Poland at the start of the Second World War, and embarked on an extraordinary journey which finally saw him reach Saltaire eight years later. The first part of his journey is told in a previous post, and here his adventures continue…
The group that included Feliks were moved to Norfolk and for a time were able to continue some education but as their teachers – concerned with careers – began to leave they realised the need to plan for their long-term future in the UK. It was the summer of 1947 when a friend of Feliks heard of job vacancies for experienced textile workers in Bingley, West Yorkshire. Feliks had never worked in textiles, but his friend persuaded him to travel and try for a job. At first, he worked at Ebor Mill in Bingley on night shifts but after 18 months, Feliks applied for and got a job, as a weaver, in Salts Mill, Saltaire. He remained in work there until retiring in 1982. He saw many changes in Salts Mill from 1948 onward, he particularly recalled the changes in weaving machines from Hattersley’s to Northrops.
Feliks met an English girl at a dance in Victoria Hall after learning to dance at a dance school in Manchester Road. He was able to put a deposit down on a house in Manningham when he was still in his twenties and his future wife’s family had begun to accept him. His eldest son was born on February 1st, 1952. His youngest son was born in 1956, both sons feel that they are English and have had good education in the UK. Feliks first went back to Poland in 1959 – after some of the relaxations of the prior Soviet Administration. He met his parents, with his oldest son, at the railway station Lipinki and it was very emotional.
Feliks wanted the words below to be recorded in his story.
We owe a debt of Gratitude to the British Authorities and local administration for fairness. Despite early difficulties, through the years we have enjoyed a decent standard of living and for the generations of our children and grandchildren who have been enabled to join the middle class
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