The Polish community may not have had such a dramatic and obvious impact on the life of Wolverhampton as other migrants, but walking around the city and going into the schools there is a definite presence. Walking around the market there are a number of stalls with specialist Polish foods. The member of the Polish Catholic Club in Wolverhampton all worked hard in their chosen industries, they gave their children the best education they could and encouraged them in education and careers. They have given strength to the Wolverhampton industry and their integration, if at first was difficult, is now fulfilled.
It has been a long struggle and at times difficult for the Polish of Wolverhampton. Recounting the reminiscences of some of the members of the Polish Catholic Club there are sad memories, but they are told with consideration for time and place.
It was not always easy for them or their families. Many of them still had family, parents, brothers and sisters in Poland they didn’t often see. As Poland was a communist state this had repercussions on the chosen careers of the migrant’s children. They were unable to join the British forces as members of their extended family were in communist state countries and this could be perceived as a security risk. This problem has now been resolved by the end of the cold war.
There have been a number of famous Poles in England some of them are stated below:
Artists and designers
Caziel Kazimierz Zielenkiewicz, Adam Mlodzianowski, Mira Hamermesh, Piotr Potworowski, Andrzej Kravze, Feliks Topolski, Tomasz Starzewski, Arkadius
Sport
Jerzy Dudek
Religion
Alexander Peters
