Panjabi people's contribution to town celebrated

Jaswant Kaur Rattan talked about working in the local lock making industry

The stories of 25 South Asian Panjabi people are being told at a Mela event in the West Midlands.

"Panjabi Tales of Willenhall" is an exhibition of photos and Manpreet Darroch, the project lead, said it will be on display from Sunday at Willenhall Memorial Park in time for Sucha Mela 2024.

He said "the Panjabi community has been an integral part of Willenhall's history" and he wanted to celebrate their contribution to the area.

It focuses on people who migrated to the area between the 1950s and 1980s and Mr Darroch said he wanted to "honour their journey and inspire future generations".

He said the exhibition, curated by Soul City Arts, "captures the everyday lives of these early migrants, showcasing their resilience, hard work, and the vibrant community they built".

Many of the people featured worked in the town's lock and key industry, including Jaswant Kaur Rattan, who came to the West Midlands in 1966.

Mr Darroch said she worked for Josiah Parkes and Sons and remembers the freezing cold snow in the early days.

Sukhbinder Kaur Lalli was one of the first women to open a shop in the area

This will be the third annual Sucha Mela in Willenhall and Mr Darroch said he had wanted to do something "a little bit different" this year and to honour the elders in the community.

"Sometimes we take it for granted the struggles that our parents and grandparents had," he said.

Another of those featured is Sukhbinder Kaur Lalli, who moved to Willenhall in 1975 and established the grocery store, Lalli Superstore, in Walsall, opposite Manor Hospital.

She was one of the first female businesswomen to open her own shop in the area, he said.

Rajinder Singh spoke about how he fell in love with Willenhall

Mr Darroch said many of the people he spoke to for the project had faced "a lot of racism" when they first arrived, but "over time people learned to love and respect the Panjabi community".

The exhibition also examines how members of the community came to love Willenhall.

One of the people he spoke to, Rajinder Singh, was a bus driver who fondly remembers going to watch Christmas carols sung in the town centre.

Joginder Kaur Kehra came to the UK in 1966 and worked as a “winder” in the wool and textiles industry

The organisers of the Mela, which takes place on 7 July, have promised music and dance from performers including Channi Singh, Nachhatar Gill, Heera Group and Lehmber Hussainpuri.

There will also be stalls, a funfair and an awards ceremony for people who have served their local community.

After the Mela, the exhibition will go on show at the New Walsall Art Gallery on 3 August.