Gretl Shapiro – Life Before The War

Read the Transcript NT: How did you come here? G.S: I came with a children’s transport which was arranged by the Quakers, the ‘Society of Friends’ INT: And where had you come from? G.S: I had come from Vienna INT: Why had your parents allowed you to come? G.S: Well, they could see no future … Read more

George Taylor – Reflection On Life

George explains how members of the family were traced in later years and how he made contact with some of them. Read the transcript: INT: And you have family? G.T: Five children. G.T: My oldest son died at 42 about 12 years ago. We had twin girls, another daughter and a son now in London. … Read more

George Taylor – Integration

George talks about the various jobs he had in Glasgow. Read the transcript: INT: So did anyone give you support? Did anyone help you to settle into Scotland? G.T: No, not really. INT: Anyone in the Jewish community? G.T: No. I did my own thing. G.T: When I started work my boss introduced me to … Read more

George Taylor – Settling In

George describes his life in Glasgow and speaks about meeting his wife. Read the transcript: INT: Ok. So you arrive in 28 Abbotstford Place and did you stay there when you came? With your mum? G.T: Yes, I stayed there for a bit. I was in Glasgow maybe one or two weeks and they arranged … Read more

George Taylor – Immigration

George describes how he arrived in Glasgow and was eventually reunited with his mother. Read the transcript: INT: You came over straight to Glasgow? G.T: Yes INT: Was your mum there to meet you when you came? G.T: No she wasn’t. That’s another wee story. G.T: You were only allowed to take ten shillings (marks?, … Read more

George Taylor – Life During The War

George gives an account of the events in Germany which lead to him and his brother coming to Glasgow to settle. Read the transcript: INT: So you were here during the war years and thankfully you had a different experience from most of the Jews in Europe. What was it like being in Glasgow during … Read more

George Taylor – Life Before The War

George describes his early years growing up near Poland and going to school there. Read the transcript: G.T: I was born on the 29th of November 1924. My name is Georg, the Germans spell it without the ‘e’ on the end, Nawratzki – N-A-W-R-A-T-Z-K-I. So either my father or grandfather was Polish. We lived near … Read more

Frieda Laird – Reflection On Life

Frieda speaks with love and pride about her children. She mentions the terrible fate of her parents and brothers and the fact that, although her life was hard, it could have been much worse. INT: I still never found out what age you were though, Frieda. FL: Pardon? INT: I still never found out what … Read more

Frieda Laird – Settling In

Frieda describes how she met her husband and how she managed to make ends meet. She tells the interviewer that she is now Scottish. INT: What age were you when you got married? FL: 21. INT: Gosh that’s quite, that’s quite young. And so how did you meet your husband? FL: I met him through … Read more

Frieda Laird – Immigration

Frieda describes her life in Scotland and the difficulties and challenges she faced as a young, vulnerable woman. She mentions her marriage and the unreliability of her husband. FL: Well, I don’t know, you see. I actually went away from my, not my religion, but I didn’t mix with Jewish people much. INT: No, but … Read more