This audio recording is a raw, unedited version of a short interview with Mr Abdul Haq (born 1917) who moved from Pakistan to England in 1938.

He recalls his arrival in Leicester from Pakistan, mentioning his family and education. He describes Leicester when he first arrived and how bombing in the Second World War altered it. He discusses changes to Leicester city centre over the years and the changing attitudes of people, believing that in general people used to be happier in the past.

He talks about his own work which included some factory work, but speaks in more depth about his work on the market. He gives his opinion on unemployment, later immigration from Pakistan and India, the 1962 Immigration Act and how he believes a quota system should have been implemented.

He recalls how the Second World War and Partition of India prevented him from returning to India and caused loss of contact with his family. He speaks about forming the India League in Leicester in 1945 and Indian Independence, and speaks about the people he met and some he still is in contact with. He mentions where he lived in Leicester, first on New Walk then Central Avenue and describes the changes to the Clarendon Park area.

Please note, that this is an unedited recording; the original is held by the East Midlands Oral History Archive (EMOHA ref. 829, LO/193/144).