https://www.moreluton.com/irish daily 0.75 2021-08-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/1605633823370-YPHSX4X8A8XBMMCNDTQK/17498768_1292304634138870_1912468066587179413_n.jpg Irish - Luton Irish Forum https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/1605618246007-7EA7CZVV4JNLBFBLNGGK/51790152_2052239404812052_6222701433381191680_o.jpg Irish - Luton Irish Forum https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/1627929401936-PUDBEM5BWVNABC5GG471/17523682_1292340974135236_4365631587953338913_n.jpg Irish - Luton Irish Forum https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/1627929360315-ETZJXAS78CII37J632EF/012470.jpg Irish - Luton Irish Forum - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.moreluton.com/learning daily 0.75 2020-10-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce435d6bea1ed00016ba287/1558964652247-5MWXNMFZVOPGE4TY6U2Q/MHeiderich_ReflexionenZwei-05-copy.jpg Learning https://www.moreluton.com/about daily 0.75 2021-08-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce435d6bea1ed00016ba287/1558964652247-5MWXNMFZVOPGE4TY6U2Q/MHeiderich_ReflexionenZwei-05-copy.jpg About https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/1621498173584-F1XB995V8HM6DTZGLNC8/eyerish+.jpg About - Why More Blacks, More Dogs, More Irish? We chose the slogan for this project as communities were inspired by its empowering and unifying message, with one participant saying, “It says it all”. We want to thank Richy and Taurayne for coining the now iconic slogan and supporting our project. Taken from a Metro article from 2016. An Irish-Jamaican couple living in South London have the best response for all the post-Brexit race hate. The pair, from Camberwell, took to the streets of Brixton with their three dogs wearing T-shirts emblazoned with ‘More blacks, more dogs, more Irish’. Richard O’Gorman, 36 – who’s originally from Ireland – printed the tongue-in-cheek slogan as the perfect antidote to the ‘No black, no dogs, no Irish’ signs seen around pubs in London, many decades ago. With his girlfriend of Jamaican descent, Taurayne McKen, 28, the two were pictured donning the tops on Instagram and the image has since been shared all around the world. Taurayne told Metro online that they started out with with just 25 t-shirts to sell, but are now ordering in hundreds to meet demand. ‘She said: ‘My grandfather spoke to me about the history behind the ‘no blacks, no dogs, no Irish’ signs in the Brixton area, so we thought we should put the message out there after Brexit. Some people don’t understand where the message originally came from, so it’s about educating people.’ Richard first printed the T-shirts six years ago and was pictured wearing it with DJ Swiss from So Solid Crew. But since these new pictures have emerged, T-shirts have been sold in Ireland, the UK, South Africa, Tokyo, New Zealand and Australia. The couple said they will donate a percentage of the sales to the Camden Irish community centre and the Black Cultural Archive in Brixton. 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Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.moreluton.com/irish-iconic daily 0.75 2022-01-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/1605714287071-6CTVX0B1IAADFSFVB95R/0_I181116_192741_2186458oTextTRMRMMGLPICT000168664432o.jpg Irish Iconic https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/1605778395870-A6EP37M3EI81BNDORC51/here-are-16-things-you-probably-never-knew-about-the-1916-rising-in-dublin.jpg Irish Iconic https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/1605712907061-7UEX7FMRJ71YZQLTIEDY/Phil-Lynott-Photo.jpg Irish Iconic https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/1627932251719-34TQ8WDZ62VEPL9E4U5Y/liveaid-696x442.jpg Irish Iconic https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/1605712438357-5QIY2NMA44SX5E7PTZKV/original-3.jpg Irish Iconic https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/1605715007963-3FLZ2DVL3HJOP8ILPQE9/cropped_MI_1994_Riverdance_Eurovision.jpg Irish Iconic https://www.moreluton.com/our-community daily 0.75 2021-08-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/1627934877608-HERF3TX3P1DNRWACPWCP/thumbnail_image001.jpg Our Community https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/1605719187179-KPISPQOYGX872ZG1BO94/SandraHayes.jpg Our Community https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/1605718996421-G1THJ7ER12YMCH6MD5T2/CatherineMartin.jpg Our Community https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/1627935095017-VY2JY7T3ZWGDOGYJRGW4/95666893_2908288475873803_7957088899149332480_n.jpg Our Community https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/1627934800000-CQZFX82W0BAGQ3G0JHKD/IMG_0004.jpg Our Community https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/1605773703150-9PK3XFJJLZLW36LM1VEK/SisterEileen.jpg Our Community https://www.moreluton.com/riverdance daily 0.75 2021-08-02 https://www.moreluton.com/irishother daily 0.75 2020-11-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1589847898345-D40VLF9LAM9L2XYZ5A1B/image-asset.jpeg Irish-Other https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1589847897715-EWKVJ35VXQ5P9CDGSYVT/image-asset.jpeg Irish-Other https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1589847896972-M6Z43LS56WX5T1S74A5I/image-asset.jpeg Irish-Other https://www.moreluton.com/italia-90 daily 0.75 2021-08-02 https://www.moreluton.com/irish-need-not-apply daily 0.75 2020-11-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1589847898345-D40VLF9LAM9L2XYZ5A1B/image-asset.jpeg Irish Need Not Apply https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1589847897715-EWKVJ35VXQ5P9CDGSYVT/image-asset.jpeg Irish Need Not Apply https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1589847896972-M6Z43LS56WX5T1S74A5I/image-asset.jpeg Irish Need Not Apply https://www.moreluton.com/carnival daily 0.75 2022-01-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/1621064220536-JGDV7I77COPBKUQ17YYS/39d9ae92da5f1e91b3825247e58170e6.jpg624x462_Q90.jpg All of us - Luton International Carnival https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/1621064417853-CE12JAM7HPWDDYGMCZ7Q/bbdba4_f13ecb9adbae4326974011f8a8c85c0f%7Emv2.jpg All of us - Luton International Carnival https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/1621719927158-39N4ZJKLF0GPCI0R1LLS/Samaritans.jpg All of us - Luton International Carnival https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/1621063216498-9TZ2DI480S00EFAQQ5SR/awarchol_carnival_2015-179.jpg All of us - Luton International Carnival St Kitts, Nevis & Friends Carnival Group https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/1621063073347-CM8E96X1UIBXDV73E3JQ/awarchol_carnival_2015-194.jpg All of us - Luton International Carnival Sickle Cell & Thalassemia Care Forum https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/1621062979372-S4UYIBF43N7HUT4RWQ0E/PHOTO-2021-05-07-20-16-18%5B2%5D.jpg All of us - Luton International Carnival The Ghana Society https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/1622192984676-2FZO2BV0NU618GMNCXJW/10988549_806295586086403_8297987390685572263_n.jpg All of us - Luton International Carnival - Make it stand out Scandalous Mas Band https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/ecb1ffd0-b18c-47d9-9684-0fb3f26ed7d6/awarchol_carnival_2015-154.jpg All of us - Luton International Carnival - Make it stand out People Behind The Costumes https://www.moreluton.com/carnival-culture daily 0.75 2021-05-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/1621720079051-YIIR8RJ8IYFMXEJOOJXI/Float.JPG Carnival Culture - Floats A float is a decorated platform, either built on a vehicle like a truck or towed behind one, which is a component of many festive parades, Parade floats were first introduced in the Middle Ages when churches used pageant wagons as movable scenery for passion plays. Artisan guilds were responsible for building the pageant wagons for their specified craft. The wagons were pulled throughout the town, most notably during Corpus Christi in which up to 48 wagons were used, one for each play in the Corpus Christi cycle. They are so named because the first floats were decorated barges on the River Thames for the Lord Mayor's Show. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/1621721370567-JEBDYJN45I7QURXEIIMJ/Dance.JPG Carnival Culture - Dance The accepted and customary form of samba danced in Rio Carnival is the Samba no pe or Foot Samaba. This dance is usually done unaccompanied and begins immediately when the samba music starts. The dancer keeps his or her body straight while taking turns bending each knee. There is little foot movement as the body moves in a 2/4 rhythm, dancing three steps at a time. The speed of the movements change with the tempo of the music, some samba dance is very fast while other samba dances move at a standard pace. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/1621720341852-F5Y749I2G9KDX8HPTXYN/Costumes.jpg Carnival Culture - Costumes In the recent past, grasses, leaves, raffia, flowers, beads, furs, animal skins, feathers, and cotton materials were used for the costumes. These materials are increasingly being replaced by synthetic substitutes, partly to reduce cost and partly to facilitate mass production. Some costumes or masquerades depict animals, birds, insects, sea creatures, or characters from myths and folklore. Others represent kings, Indians, celebrities, African or European culture heroes, historical figures, clowns, and other characters. Cross-dressing and masquerades with grotesque features are rampant. So too is seductive dancing. The loud music-calypso in the Caribbean and samba in Brazil- adds to the frenzy, allowing performers and spectators alike to release pent up emotion. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/1621720478314-OXE3XFA6B9C3BLQPWEJJ/Music.jpg Carnival Culture - Music Calypso Calypso is a popular type Afro-Caribbean music. It often has a strong message, moral tale or is some form of political or social commentary. It is set to catchy beats. It is a good way to stay informed about what is happening on an island. Soca Soca actually derives from the worlds Soul and Calypso. Soca is music that was made to be danced to. It has up tempo beats and is infused with a little bit of soul. Chutney Music This is a type of music that is popular in the southern Caribbean islands. It is like a fusion between soca and Indian music. Even the lyrics can have broken up English and Hindi music. Steelband A Trinidadian music ensemble, particularly associated with Carnival, that is primarily composed of steel idiophones—called pans or steel pans—made from the bottoms of 55-gallon oil barrels. The barrel bottoms are hammered inward, different areas being shaped to yield distinct pitches. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/1621721978587-FWSTOMEPX6OXQ0TX6B9Y/Characters.jpg Carnival Culture - Characters A wide variety of costumes (called "mas") depicting traditional Carnival characters are seen throughout the Carnival. After emancipation in 1838, freed slaves in Trinidad combined African culture with colonial influence to create characters that parodied the upper-class customs and costumes of Carnival. Fine out more here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/1621722396866-0ZPPYM6N5XNTW7SRDEYV/Kings+_Queens.JPG Carnival Culture - Kings & Queens Each band is led by a King and Queen, who wear extremely large costumes, often requiring extensions and wheels to assist the masquerader to carry it through the streets. Each year on Dimanche Gras (Carnival Sunday), a competition is held to award the King and Queen of Carnival title to two of these masqueraders. https://www.moreluton.com/carnival-history daily 0.75 2021-05-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/1622049180125-ZIDAECV60K0KEPWDPHW9/Screenshot+2021-05-26+at+18.12.35.png Carnival History - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/1621802613965-6FTJGDEU5UFSXGL7E6PY/Flood.png Carnival History - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/1621799305105-YN0G119QLCQ9S9KYU6KA/St+georges+Day+1967.jpg Carnival History - Make it stand out St George’s Day Parade. George Street, Luton, 1967 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/1621798318337-ZRWI0S67LX4WGBCGIBHH/VE+Day.jpg Carnival History - Make it stand out VE Day parade in George Street, Luton, on May 8, 1945. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/1621797748037-45R4LWEDNP6R07CWNR7P/King+George+2.jpg Carnival History - Make it stand out Silver Jubilee Parade 1935, Biddenham, Bedfordshire. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/1621796599355-RMHJQS52L79NQBO117S5/Peace+Day+riots.jpg Carnival History - Make it stand out Luton Peace Day Parade Saturday July 19th 1919. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/1621795852528-600LRIE0I4NA1LAR5XJ9/Opening%2Bof%2Bthe%2BPlait%2BHalls.jpg Carnival History - Make it stand out Illustration of the procession to celebrate the opening of the Plait Halls. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/1621797118421-1B5E2XDCAM4M37BTQIJS/Watford_High_St_2.1897.LRR.jpg Carnival History - Make it stand out Diamond Jubilee Procession 22 June 1897, Watford High Street. https://www.moreluton.com/the-ghana-society daily 0.75 2022-01-16 https://www.moreluton.com/st-kitts-nevis-friends daily 0.75 2022-01-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/127fcbfe-b8a3-4932-9965-ef7d34099060/carnival19-741.jpg St Kitts, Nevis & Friends https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/b6b40483-bb15-4bd7-acf6-047893f2b7a9/carnival19-747.jpg St Kitts, Nevis & Friends https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/63ac63ac-38fc-4e6f-a76f-ecfc4936aa01/carnival19-749.jpg St Kitts, Nevis & Friends https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/97767536-1008-42be-b7fb-1d13f6f9ffad/carnival19-488.jpg St Kitts, Nevis & Friends 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https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/1627821884039-I0SWMAYA2AATBUS682XN/20210515_112718.png Bhagat Ram - Bhagat proudly displayed his passport and emigration voucher that brought him to the UK in 1963. Bhagat was living in Beas Pind, Jalandhar in the Punjab and was studying. At that time the British Government invited people living in Commonwealth countries to emigrate to the UK to support the labour needs and as a way of thanking those countries for their role in the two World Wars. Bhagat knew nothing about this scheme until his brother told him to go. Bhagat’s brother had been in conversation with a friend and thought this would be a great opportunity as employment prospects in India were poor. He was so keen that he even completed the application form for him, but Bhagat was reluctant to leave. However, he felt that he couldn’t let his brother down so, he agreed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/1627827383494-XRU6SXVC41FDK9VV78UN/WhatsApp+Image+2021-06-01+at+20.38.00+%281%29.jpeg Bhagat Ram - Bhagat was issued with a voucher and came to the UK. Fortunately, some people from his village were already in the UK and were able to meet him at Heathrow and give him short term accommodation. Bhagat’s uncle, who lived in Luton came for him and on 20th July 1963, Bhagat began his life in Luton. At that time families supported each other a lot in settling in the UK. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/1627816053966-6G1IISBFIHFD6WFYBAXY/WhatsApp%2BImage%2B2021-06-01%2Bat%2B20.37.59.jpg Bhagat Ram - Initially, Bhagat worked in a scrap yard but one of the other men their dropped some metal which narrowly avoided hitting Bhagat. If he had not moved out of the way, it might have cost him his leg. Bhagat’s uncle asked him to leave immediately and see employment elsewhere. Bhagat went to work in a factory on Wingate Road, manufacturing steel boxes for the Shipping Industry, where he stayed for two and a half years until he had a serious accident with some industrial machinery that left him with his little finger hanging off. He was quickly taken to the Luton and Dunstable Hospital and they managed to save his finger. Bhagat started work at Johnson Tools and Dyes, Dunstable. He hoped that he would be able to work in the office, but stayed working in the factory until he was made redundant. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/1627822064350-65ZKHEO7G47IBCR4VL95/WhatsApp%2BImage%2B2021-06-01%2Bat%2B20.38.00.jpg Bhagat Ram - Bhagat was out of work for six months before he found another job, this time at Kents, but after eighteen months, he was again made redundant. Luckily, Bhagat found some stability at Goldstar, where he worked for eleven years before retirement in 2006. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/1627816585865-DHKS0YB8U2VIC72FA7E8/WhatsApp%252BImage%252B2021-06-01%252Bat%252B20.38.01.jpg Bhagat Ram - Bhagat recalled that he would often work seven days a week and would take on overtime. The intention was to earn enough money to go back to India and have a better lifestyle. However, when children were born and other families settled in the UK, it raised questions about why would want he want to go back and what he would do there. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/1627822304031-1ONBODVGYPI8ZNSJ024N/WhatsApp%25252BImage%25252B2021-06-01%25252Bat%25252B20.38.01.jpg Bhagat Ram - Bhagat visits India annually since retirement to see extended family and looks forward to doing this again once it is safe to travel. During Covid, Bhagat and others have collected and donated money to their home village Beas Pind, Punjab to help those less fortunate. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/3411c431-f620-490f-8069-d914fe91afe6/WhatsApp+Image+2021-06-01+at+20.38.01+%281%29.jpeg Bhagat Ram - In 1970, Bhagat bought his first home, in Holland Road Luton. With a growing family of two sons and a daughter, Bhagat moved to a larger home in Birdsfoot Lane. Bhagat has two young grandchildren by his youngest son. Bhagat’s daughter married back in India and her husband came to the UK but found he could not settle. Sadly, that marriage ended in divorce. Being a loving Dad, he asked his daughter to come and live with him while she got back on her feet and resumed her studies. https://www.moreluton.com/jagan-nath daily 0.75 2021-08-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/1627824561219-NP1J9G0OVL5OYZNRCL4K/WhatsApp%2BImage%2B2021-05-30%2Bat%2B19.43.16%2B%25282%2529.jpg Jagan Nath - Jagan was just 16, when he came to the UK in 1960. He’d passed his matriculation (O’Level equivalent) and his dad, who was already in the UK, sent for him. Jagan recalled his Mum crying when he left and everyone coming to the train station to see him off. It was a long plane journey alone and a very long way from his hometown of Garhi Mahan Singh, near Apra in India’s Punjab. Jagan was really hoping to get an apprenticeship but when this did not work out, determined as ever, he went to evening school to study English and Science, while working in a Plastics extrusion company in Harpenden. Jagan recalled that pay and conditions there were good but the three shift system was hard going, even for a young person. Jagan said “we sacrifice a lot when we leave our country.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/1627824769929-FTB5SHDB0YQQITKVDFEY/WhatsApp+Image+2021-05-30+at+19.43.16+%281%29.jpeg Jagan Nath - Jagan enrolled on an engineering course to improve his career prospects and found work at Luton’s Kent Meters. A year later, he started a skilled role as a machine setter at AC Delco Dunstable and stayed there for over 35 years. When AC Delco closed in 2002, Jagan went to work for Bernard Matthews, but by this time, Jagan was experiencing health problems with his knees and while the company would have welcomed him working part time, Jagan retired. Retirement meant that Jagan was able to spend more time serving, as a Committee Member, at the Shri Guru Ravidass Sangat Gurudwara, where Jagan has held key roles over the years as President, General Secretary, Trustee and now as Head Trustee. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/1627824896448-WU829OJ4460MA3VQR6A9/WhatsApp+Image+2021-05-30+at+19.43.16+%285%29.jpeg Jagan Nath - The Shri Guru Ravidass Sangat Gurudwara began as a dream for the Luton Sikh community, who were worshipping at Beech Hill School and dearly wanted their own premises. Through community donations and fundraising, the beautiful Gurudwara in Cardigan Street was purchased. A former Methodist Chapel that needed renovation. Jagan as well as many of the elders were key to the success of this venture. Over the years, Jagan said that the community has become “more flexible, and adaptable in their thinking, meeting, socialising and integrating with other communities.” Jagan recalled socialising in Luton, at Kents Club and the Bobbers Club, which are no longer with us. “Pubs have changed. In the early days there was no lager then, just ales and bitter,’ said Jagan. Social clubs like the Kent and the Bobbers Club were great meeting places and helped to integrate communities, with entertainment, family events and always enjoy a cheap pint. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/1627825122264-F03JDR7ZD8BRBXNDC2OU/WhatsApp+Image+2021-05-30+at+19.43.16+%283%29.jpeg Jagan Nath - Providing for his family has been central to Jagan’s life. Over the years, the family have moved many times in Luton. Each move has been to create more space and a better environment. Jagan also has a lovely house back in India, but he has no plans to move back. “Our children and grandchildren are here,” he said. “They don’t want that life and we can’t do without them.” Jagan does go back to India annually, but also loves going on holiday. To date, he has been to America, Dubai, Sri Lanka and all across Europe. And everywhere he and his wife, Kamla Devi have been she says “shall we buy a house here?” Jagan has loved seeing all of these very different places but always returns to home in Luton. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/1627825262565-2GI4YKMWGPF3HDOLDAY1/WhatsApp%2BImage%2B2021-05-30%2Bat%2B19.43.16%2B%25284%2529.jpg Jagan Nath - Jagan thanks God that he is here, in the UK for many reasons, most recently he has been benefitted immensely from the support the NHS has provided him. https://www.moreluton.com/kamla-kainth daily 0.75 2021-08-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/1627822493879-F9Z0OR2323HVCICP20TK/WhatsApp+Image+2021-07-11+at+14.34.14+%281%29.jpeg Kamla Kainth - Kamla came to the UK when she was about 10 years old and her family settled in Southall, West London. Her dad had been living in the Fiji Islands and had a UK passport, which enabled him to emigrate with his family to the UK. Kamla nearly emigrated again, this time to Canada. The company where her dad worked was Canadian, and were offering assisted passages. Kamla’s dad asked Kamla and her sister if they wanted to go and both girls said a huge no! So, the family stayed in Southall. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/1627827678649-JWWG07X208YJ9FKVGQGO/WhatsApp+Image+2021-07-11+at+14.34.14.jpeg Kamla Kainth - Kamla came to Luton when she married in 1972. It was the perfect place to settle and her in-laws were in Luton too. Both Kamla and her husband worked in Luton’s famous hat industry at Bermona Hats on Bolton Road, Luton. Kamla’s husband worked blocking hats, which is how they are shaped and Kamla worked as a machinist. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/1627827770869-IJF0QY9O6GVHHZ3X4EB4/WhatsApp+Image+2021-06-03+at+10.34.50.jpeg Kamla Kainth - It wasn’t long before Kamla’s first baby was born and for a while she gave up work to be a full time mum. When she returned, it was to Eastex, where she used her sewing skills again, as a top sticher on high-end fashion garments. Her mum in law looked after Kamla’s daughter. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/1627827841617-DRI5ID5USTPGCY7CK99C/WhatsApp+Image+2021-07-11+at+14.34.13+%281%29.jpeg Kamla Kainth - Kamla had always loved sewing, from when she was a little girl living with her auntie and uncle in Jalandhar. When she left Eastex, she continued as a seamstress from home, making suits and dresses, often without a pattern. Kamla recalled the late night last minute alterations leading up to a wedding to ensure that the bride looked her best on the day. She was always pleased to do this and there must be many Luton brides who benefitted from Kamla’s skills and kindness. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/1627822927530-U255PFCHDCG1Q7ORDAQA/WhatsApp%2BImage%2B2021-07-11%2Bat%2B14.34.13.jpg Kamla Kainth - Kamla is also looking forward to the weekly lunch club for the elderly starting up again. Before the outbreak of Covid, this was a thriving group providing food and friendship for elders across Lutons South Asian community. A few years ago Kamla become Shri Guru Ravidass Sangats, first ever female Trustee a position that she believes will inspire other women to achieve more. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/1627823294412-SATMEDZ9EN59JBJFXUJV/WhatsApp%2BImage%2B2021-07-11%2Bat%2B14.34.13%2B%25282%2529.jpg Kamla Kainth - Kamla reflected on how good living in the UK has been for her and her family. She is very grateful for the NHS and that she has been able to contribute to a private pension. If she was back in India, Kamla felt that ‘they would still be slogging’ rather than enjoying an active and fun retirement. https://www.moreluton.com/dhanna-singh-mahay daily 0.75 2021-08-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/1627823852930-Y7BOZAAMGFX8ET7YN5WA/WhatsApp%25252BImage%25252B2021-07-11%25252Bat%25252B14.27.43%25252B%252525282%25252529.jpg Dhanna Singh Mahay - When Dhanna came to the UK, he was leaving behind a wife and three young children in the village of Mitapur, Punjab to give his family a better future. Dhanna had attended technical college and was a carpenter with plenty of skills to offer in a new country. On reaching the UK under the voucher system, Dhanna stayed with family and quickly found work with George Dodd Builders based in Frederick St Luton. Dodds specialised in doing up houses and selling them on, other larger properties were converted to flats. Dhanna was in demand as a carpenter because doors and windows on many of the properties he worked on were not standard sized and had to be made to bespoke measurements. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/1627828221833-Z2SWZYLHJ9X3A0421735/WhatsApp%2BImage%2B2021-07-11%2Bat%2B14.27.43.jpg Dhanna Singh Mahay - All of this time, Dhanna stayed in touch with his young family, and managed to go back to India to visit them, but it was five years before he could bring them over to Luton and the family initially settling, with family in Claremont Road. With two families living together there was 16 people living in one house in the early years. Eventually Dhanna bought his first house in Havelock Road, later in 1980 moving to Reginald Street. Dhanna’s wife soon found employment in a Hat Factory near to home where she did machine work. All of this was new to her, as culturally it would have been unusual for a woman to work outside the home, unless she was in a profession like the Civil Service. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/1627823970415-W07Y757RR20QAENXOS1V/WhatsApp%2BImage%2B2021-07-11%2Bat%2B14.27.44.jpg Dhanna Singh Mahay - Fortunately, Dhanna had quite a lot of family in Luton and they helped one another, often meeting up at the SKF Social Club for a drink and a chat. Dhanna later worked at SKF, Vauxhall, Wimpey Builders and found it easy to find work. At Vauxhall Bedford Trucks, Dhanna was trained in spot welding, welding the body work on lorry cabs. Bedford Trucks operated a night shift and Dhanna worked from 6.00pm to 7.00am, catching up on his sleep while the six children were at school. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/de8fe16a-b633-4acc-a449-2a0a9f260e9c/WhatsApp+Image+2021-07-11+at+14.27.43+%283%29.jpeg Dhanna Singh Mahay - Dhanna was a founder member of the Shri Guru Ravidass Sangat Gurudwara, fundraising and bringing his practical skills to refurbish the building. Other Sikh (Ravidassia) communities across the UK also donated and there was a sense of shared purpose in creating local worship spaces. Sadly, in December 1992 there was an arson attack on the Gurudwara which was a terrible setback after all the time and money that the community had contributed. Literally everything was burned apart from the Holy book (the Shri Guru Granth Sahib), which miraculously was unscathed and the exterior walls. Fortunately, the Gurudwara was insured, and the slow process of rebuilding could take place. The rebuild took around 18 months and today it is a beautiful multi-purpose building with a welcoming atmosphere and a feeling of peace and friendliness. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/1627828527257-SKXEQSMIHIM65BVWVZEP/WhatsApp%2BImage%2B2021-07-11%2Bat%2B14.27.44%2B%25282%2529.jpg Dhanna Singh Mahay - Like many immigrants, Dhanna only intended to stay for four or five years and then return to India, but over time he realised that his children were very settled in the UK and for them, going back would be placing them in a very different society. It would be a culture clash, and they were now British Indians and would find the transition into Indian society difficult. The India that he had left had changed and sadly some people had passed away. Dhanna and his late wife Pritam Kaur visited India regularly to stay in touch with family but when Dhanna’s wife died, he no longer wanted to go back. Dhanna feels grateful that his children are happy and thriving in the UK and he is now a proud Great Grandad, although he mentioned that his Great Grandchild is in danger of replacing ‘Baba’ (Grandad) with a new puppy! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/1627824162052-S91451GAMR8LFYMVBRN9/WhatsApp%2BImage%2B2021-07-11%2Bat%2B14.27.44%2B%25281%2529.jpg Dhanna Singh Mahay - Dhanna feels that it’s important to maintain traditions but also sees benefits in adapting them with the times. https://www.moreluton.com/ramesh-sondhi daily 0.75 2021-08-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/00a4488f-392c-4ea5-b195-17c0adce8b3a/WhatsApp+Image+2021-06-20+at+12.32.03.jpeg Ramesh Sondhi - Ramesh was still under 16 when he arrived in Luton on 20th February 1967 with his mother. The youngest of seven siblings, Ramesh had lost his father when he was very young . His elder brothers already settled in Luton felt a sense of responsibility to their younger brother and applied for Ramesh to join them as a dependent sibling. Originally from Beas Pind, Jalandhar, Punjab Ramesh settled with his eldest brother in Kenilworth Road. He recalls that during home football matches none of the family would leave the home, fearing attack by football hooligans. Racist abuse was common and occasionally windows were smashed. The weather was very cold and in the early months the snow was heavy and hard to adjust too, however despite the difficulties Ramesh was determined to progress and better his life. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/31cbe132-28f3-44b3-885c-47a5654c74c2/WhatsApp+Image+2021-06-20+at+12.32.02.jpeg Ramesh Sondhi - Due to his age, he could not enrol at secondary school but instead attended evening classes to improve his English at Beech Hill School initially then at Luton Technical College (now the Bedfordshire University). He soon found employment at Jewish owned fur coat company on Old Bedford Road. Many other community members also joined him and worked with him – it was a good start to Ramesh’s career. After 3 years Ramesh joined Vauxhall Motors and stayed with them for 10 years assembling large vehicles for Bedford Trucks. Ramesh married Harbhajan in 1974 and a year later he had saved enough to put a deposit on his first home. “ I paid £10,900 for me first house in Sundon Park in 1975, and I have been very happy here.” Ramesh and Harbhajan soon had a family of their own and his two sons and two daughters settled well in the area. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/846c48fe-218e-4cab-87f8-7f15e15fcbcd/WhatsApp+Image+2021-06-20+at+12.32.03+%282%29.jpeg Ramesh Sondhi - During weekends and holidays Ramesh would work in Scammell (later called USB), another factory based on Leagrave Road, manufacturing steel boxes for the Shipping Industry . Later he joined them fulltime leaving Vauxhalls. His eldest brother was not happy about his decision as the new employee did not offer the benefits that Vauxhalls offered their staff but work was plentiful. Often 12 hour shifts seven days a week and Ramesh was happy, remaining with the company for 26 years. When the company closed, he joined Loomis Security, a firm specialising in replenishing cash machines. However, near tragedy almost struck, on a routine drop to a cash point in Enfield, Ramesh was the driver and his truck was ambushed by gunman. Unaware of what exactly happening outside his truck, he heard a commotion and as he was about to leave his cabin the gunmen fired. Ramesh was shot in the chest missing an inch from his heart. He was flown to the Royal Free Hospital in London and fortunately survived. Since retiring he has submerged himself to be a committed volunteer for Shri Guru Ravidass Sangat. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/1627825877446-U470MXL0KQLROOWF2SFE/WhatsApp+Image+2021-06-20+at+12.32.03+%281%29.jpeg Ramesh Sondhi - As the community settled in Luton there was a real need to set up a Gurudwara for everyone to congregate and worship together. In the early days the community hired Beech Hill School or Maidenhall Junior School halls to worship. In 1983 the dream of having the communities own place of worship became reality as the community came together and purchased an old Methodist Church in Cardigan Street. Ramesh was amongst the founding members. “We went house to house and up and down the country to raise the funds to purchase the Church and establish our Gurudwara in the heart of Luton…. It was a great sense of achievement.” “Luton has given me so much… I came when I was a young boy and now I am a grandad.. who is still able to support my family members back in India.” https://www.moreluton.com/luton-united-synagogue daily 0.75 2022-01-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/579d30cc-65a2-40bd-a8ca-5774416b6ba2/Image+for+History+of+Luton+Jewish+Community.jpg Jewish -Luton United Synagogue https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/b91b495c-7c4c-4dfe-88bc-fc98c9fdcf07/Screenshot+2022-01-10+at+08.34.19.png Jewish -Luton United Synagogue https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/655d6981-6fef-45c0-b30a-26ad32d59c00/Candle.jpg Jewish -Luton United Synagogue https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/89b5ab66-ed26-45b3-86c1-5e8a846cfcb9/Image+for+Observance+%26+Festivals.jpg Jewish -Luton United Synagogue https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/4abf5e80-1928-4380-bca1-b7ca2b9b7f1e/Book+image+for+Poetry+section.jpg Jewish -Luton United Synagogue Learn more https://www.moreluton.com/bob-geldof-live-aid daily 0.75 2021-08-02 https://www.moreluton.com/windrush-luton-windrush-network daily 0.75 2022-04-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/25e1189f-7c72-41f5-ae3f-40b0ac09b061/Screenshot+2022-04-05+at+19.26.12.png Windrush - Luton Windrush Network https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/fac68ac1-9722-4e69-9b6a-bda690a8cb40/Screenshot+2022-04-05+at+19.26.00.png Windrush - Luton Windrush Network https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/d19af4a5-f2d9-4690-af0e-77eb84f11daa/Screenshot+2022-04-05+at+19.25.51.png Windrush - Luton Windrush Network https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/1f62ca36-bc2f-4f18-9659-a2228d597312/Screenshot+2022-04-05+at+19.25.23.png Windrush - Luton Windrush Network https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/8aad6f9b-a305-4761-bcd7-d090431cd8f9/Screenshot+2022-04-05+at+19.25.14.png Windrush - Luton Windrush Network Learn more https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/3bb1a012-39d5-4afd-b85c-df478b734ee6/Screenshot+2022-04-05+at+19.25.40.png Windrush - Luton Windrush Network - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.moreluton.com/home daily 1.0 2026-01-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/0579ec36-016f-4561-96e4-1c7e3933c9e0/Luton+at+Heart+DRAFT+4.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/f64d269d-6648-4fff-8ded-3294bd99b0c4/imgg-demo-ZRjbSa11.png https://www.moreluton.com/luton-at-heart daily 0.75 2026-02-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/a795c814-0077-4239-8676-157b078c6ef2/Luton+at+Heart+DRAFT+4.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/eb80ec77-7c15-4c17-a42b-8ad28dbc1513/Luton+Arts+Logo.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/eb6b9ad4-51fb-4478-8180-2a1092d5cef9/2025LutonCreateFund%28v3%29+%281%29.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/1e9fe1d6-26de-416c-b26b-5a10f754c50b/BLCF+Logo.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/ca0813c0-4ae7-4390-8434-02c4d29eea2b/Big+Heart+Workshops.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/26f61861-51a0-41dc-a938-0265eca043d8/Taster+Workshop https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/3f77986d-4d24-4752-90c0-0e5a3f3b998f/Luton+at+Heart+Logo+DRAFT+8.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/975257f5-c7f7-4700-9bf2-2d89e7ce0f1c/Luton+at+Heart+Logo+DRAFT+6.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/0579ec36-016f-4561-96e4-1c7e3933c9e0/Luton+at+Heart+DRAFT+4.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/975257f5-c7f7-4700-9bf2-2d89e7ce0f1c/Luton+at+Heart+Logo+DRAFT+6.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/eb6b9ad4-51fb-4478-8180-2a1092d5cef9/2025LutonCreateFund%28v3%29+%281%29.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/eb80ec77-7c15-4c17-a42b-8ad28dbc1513/Luton+Arts+Logo.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/30468af1-12ca-4506-9c0d-fa13fd023b2e/Total+welbeing+Luton+logo.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/9eecaad7-9fde-4e55-af7c-32a65d5b2421/Culture+Trust+Luton+Logo.jpeg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/1e9fe1d6-26de-416c-b26b-5a10f754c50b/BLCF+Logo.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f9939b9b9033c56040e3d07/affbdbf3-4a19-4e41-9611-361cfeb19acb/fran-imagine-21.jpg