Arrivals and Departures in St Albans

HWSF recently organised an evening titled “Arrivals and Departures” exploring issues of migration in collaboration with St Albans Folk Club and St Albans Amnesty International Group. 

The evening began with a musical performance by local folk band Na Mara about the evacuation of children from wartime Bilbao. 

Irene Austin, the chair of HWSF, interviewed two young refugees who now live in St Albans. They discussed the unique challenges of living in a new country with different customs, rules and expectations. Both refugees highlighted the importance of learning a new language and overcoming challenges in their quest for an education. 

Local historians, Kate Morris and Ken Griffin, offered a historical perspective, describing the people who had arrived at and departed from St Albans over the centuries. 
​
Syrian and Middle Eastern food was served throughout the evening, and the night was topped off by more songs performed by Na Mara.