Trowbridge is mini Morocco

Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 5:19 pm Post subject: Trowbridge is mini Morocco

Trowbridge is mini Morocco

PETER KNIGHT

Published: 05 Oct 2006 by the Sun newspaper

HISTORIC Trowbridge must rate as one of Britain’s least exotic places.

But now it has a special claim to fame ? it is the first UK town to be twinned with one in a Muslim Arab country.

The Wiltshire market town is home to the UK’s largest number of Moroccans outside London.

Around 700 live here, nearly all of them with links to Trowbridge’s twin ? Oujda in northern Morocco.

The first migrants from Oujda arrived in the 1960s after British employment agencies advertised in Moroccan newspapers for workers to fill factory job vacancies.

Mohammed Boutarfas, 69, one of the first to come to Britain, recalls: “I saw the advert which said I could earn money in England. I was young, poor and didn’t know much of England apart from Manchester United and the 1966 World Cup.”

Once his work permit came through, Mohammed set off for the UK ? a three-day train journey through Spain and France. He arrived at Dover in 1968 and from there the job agency sent him to a chicken factory just outside Trowbridge where other Moroccans were already working.

He says: “We slaughtered chickens. I did everything from killing them to slicing them. But I got homesick. It wasn’t what I expected. It was rainy and the winters were cold. I thought I’d made a mistake.”

Deli-ghts ... Khalil Chafik runs town's Moroccan deli
Deli-ghts ... Khalil Chafik runs town's Moroccan deli

Mohammed stuck it out, however, planning to earn enough money on £11.25 a week to return home ? but he changed his mind and stayed.

After four years the chicken plant closed and Mohammed found work at Bowyers ? a pig processing factory. As a practising Muslim, he is not allowed to eat pork.

He says: “We found it difficult but we had to do it for money. We didn’t eat it, so we didn’t worry.”

Mohammed eventually brought his wife Zubida to Trowbridge and all eight of their children were born here. He adds: “I like it here. My friends are here, my children go to school in Trowbridge.”

The Moroccan community is firmly rooted in the town ? many of the men run taxi services and there is a deli selling Moroccan food and halal meat.

Mohammed’s son Abdul is chair of the town’s Moroccan Community Association and it was he who suggested the idea of twinning to the local council.

Abdul says: “Many Moroccans living here are from Oujda, so it seemed like the obvious town to set up a link with. We want to build bridges between Morocco and the UK and we thought this was a great way for British people to meet individuals rather than labels.”

Ties ... Mohammed, fifth from left, and son Abdul, centre
Ties ... Mohammed, fifth from left, and son Abdul, centre

Lance Allen, clerk to the town council, said: “Everyone likes the idea. We have a strong Moroccan population here and the link will help form bonds in the community.”

Oujda leaders visited Trowbridge in March and town leaders are looking to return the favour later this year. So what do the residents of Britain’s mini Morocco make of the twinning?

Peggy Adams, 87, who lives next to a small bungalow that serves as Trowbridge’s mosque, said: “I’ve hardly noticed the Moroccans here. They’re very discreet and don’t make a lot of noise.”

As her mobility buggy bumped off the kerb, she joked: “The council can twin us with a Moroccan town but it still can’t fix the pavements. Does this mean we’re going to have holidays in Morocco then?”

Barry Payne, 65, steward of Trowbridge Conservative Club, said, “We see the Moroccans mix pretty well in the pubs. They virtually run the taxi service round here ? most cabs are staffed with Moroccans.

Mum-of-two Sandra Jones, 36, said, “I visited the local museum’s Morocco exhibition.

“The colours were just so beautiful ? it makes me want to go and see the country for myself.

“My son drank the Moroccan mint tea ? now he says he won’t look at PG Tips the same way again.”

Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 7:48 pm Post subject: Re: Trowbridge is mini Morocco

Glad to be in trowbridge

Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 1:32 am Post subject: Re: Trowbridge is mini Morocco

Lucky you. I am also glad that Ladbroke Grove is only few miles away from me. but i do want to visit your area one day inshallah. I miss some of the jokes from my dearest friend and brother

Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 3:44 am Post subject: Re: Trowbridge is mini Morocco

Inshallah it would be lovely to meet you

Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2011 9:50 pm Post subject: Re: Trowbridge is mini Morocco

Trowbridge is rubbish!! There's nothing Moroccan about it?! Well there's the mosque........ but that's another story, lol!!

Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2011 11:20 pm Post subject: Re: Trowbridge is mini Morocco

Oooo...that's a bit negative...I'm sure Trowbridge is very nice.