It always baffled me hearing people in Wyre Forest complaining about immigrants. Wyre Forest has far fewer than most – less than 4 percent at the last census and over half of them were white. The numbers rose with the opening of the European borders but they were largely Poles and Kidderminster has always had a great Polish community. Those who are here largely contribute far more than they take, both to the economy and the community. After leaving King Charles I school, rather longer ago than I care to mention, I sought work in London, undoubtedly the most cosmopolitan city in the world. It was a shock at first after Kidderminster but I soon learned to love the diversity and the great experiences I gained from befriending people from everywhere in the world. For a while I had a tumbledown bolt hole in a tiny Mediaeval village in southern France, as have several of my KCI schoolfriends. The local Catalans couldn’t be more welcoming. I also worked in Japan, China, Malaysia, Egypt, across America and Europe and lived briefly in Botswana. Although something of an oddity in most of these places, I rarely felt unwelcome.
As we head into recession and increasing unemployment, it is tempting to find someone to blame and for many scared people, the easiest target is anyone different from them. It’s at times like these that sick extremists come out to exploit this fear. They are stalking the streets of Wyre Forest at the moment, even claiming that Jesus Christ would have condoned their stomach-churning thuggery. They’ll claim to be family lovers, decent people, tolerant and fair. They’ll ignore the facts to prey upon our darker prejudices. They’ll talk of British culture without knowing a thing about it.
Vulnerable people will join them, unaware that they are being duped into a conspiracy that will impoverish Britain more effectively than any dodgy banker. Imagine what a sad little country this would be if we had spent our great history shunning Johnny foreigner rather than working with him?
We have nothing to fear but fear itself and all these subversive racists sell is fear. Don’t give in to this cowardice. As we celebrate St George’s Day this month, let us remember that one of the things that makes Britain truly Great and a nation that is respected around the world is our tolerance and our internationalism.
Neville Farmer
