Dany Metzstein (Danielle Kahn) was born in Montpellier, France in 1942. Her parents were in hiding and her father was involved with the Maquis. They survived the war in France, but then Dany had to stay in an orphanage and a boarding school. She came to live in Motherwell, Scotland, and enjoyed being a teenager … Read more
Int All right. Okay, let’s go. So good afternoon, Dany lovely to see you Today is the 16th of June 2023. And I’m here to interview you which is very nice of you. So normally how we start, Dany is to ask you an embarrassing question is when you were born, and what your name … Read more
INT: If you look back now on your time in Scotland, what would you say are the high points in your life? LM: Well one of the highest points, definitely, about 30 odd years ago I used to go dancing, not dancing, I was no dancer, I liked traditional jazz and there was only one … Read more
INT: And how was it that you then left? What happened after the four and a half years? LM: Ah what happened was they needed the house for some reason for WAAC’s, or RAAC’S or one of the women’s naval organisations and they found another place in Castle Douglas, Ernespie house, which was an old … Read more
INT: And how did you come? Was it a train and boat or…? LM: Well yes it was a very strange arrangement. I’d never been out of the street you might say and suddenly we’re told, I remember this my mother said “C’mon, we’re going” and I had a wee parcel or something and my … Read more
INT: Today is the 26th of July 2013 and we’re here to interview Leo Metzstein. Leo, can I begin by asking you when you were born? Where were you born? And were you always called Leo Metzstein? LM: Yes I was born on the 27th of July 1932 in Berlin and I was always named … Read more
Isi talks about taking architecture students to Berlin and the importance of differing housing design. He is proud of the body of work done by firm of architects here in Glasgow. He reflects on the enigma of what may cause anti-semitism. Read the Transcript IM: If you go to Berlin (which I do, which I … Read more
This section describes how Isi Metzstein chose to train as an architect and it goes on to give details of his architectural work and his teaching commitments. Isi talks of his pride in being Jewish but the importance of his secular oulook. He has never been thoroughly involved with Glasgow’s Jewish community. Read the Transcript … Read more
This small section explains how Isi Metzstein’s mother was able to support him by working as a cook Read the Transcript INT: So how were you able to support yourself? IM: I wasn’t. I stayed at home with my mother INT: Right and she found work in Scotland? IM: Oh yes INT: When she came … Read more
In this short section Isi Metzstein discusses how far he felt that he was (and was treated as) a foreigner when he lived in Britain during the war Read the Transcript INT: And did you feel foreign at that time? Because the war was going on, was it uncomfortable to be German? IM: Actually not … Read more