The Polish community has shaped Bedford for generations. Long before Poland joined the European Union, Polish families were helping build the town’s industries, communities and cultural identity.
My own family’s story is part of that history.
Following the Second World War, around 200,000 Polish refugees and servicemen settled in the UK after being unable to safely return to a Soviet-controlled Poland.
Among them were my paternal great-grandparents. Like many Polish families of that generation, their journey was marked by immense hardship.
Read: Polish Embassy visit celebrates multilingual learning at Bedford school
During the war, they were deported to Siberia before eventually travelling out of the Soviet Union alongside Anders’ Army.
After a long and difficult journey through the Middle East, they arrived in Yafa, then part of Palestine, where they were welcomed and supported by the local community.
Bedfordshire brickworks
A few years later, the family travelled to Liverpool to begin rebuilding their lives in Britain. My grandfather was later born in Halifax before the family eventually settled in Bedford.
Like many members of Bedford’s post-war Polish community, my great-grandfather worked in the brickworks in Bedfordshire.
At a time when Britain faced major labour shortages after the war, Polish workers became an important part of rebuilding the local economy and the country.
My great-grandfather worked as a rail operator within the brickworks, helping transport bricks across the industrial sites that became central to Bedford’s identity.
The work was physically demanding, but it gave many families stability and the chance to build a future. Over time, Polish families established churches, social clubs, and businesses that became part of the town’s fabric.
Although my great-grandfather and grandfather later returned to Poland, life under Soviet influence remained difficult. My grandfather often recalls long queues for basic food supplies and the struggle to provide opportunities for his family.
Eventually, my grandparents made the difficult decision to return to Britain in search of a more secure future for their five children.
PBIC
Once again, Bedford became the place where our family rebuilt its life.
With support from the local Polish community, my grandfather found accommodation, work at Cardington Meats, and the chance to create stability for his family once more.
Today, my mother, Mags Brady, is the CEO of PBIC, a Bedford-based charity that supports migrants and refugees as they settle and thrive within our community.
Why Heritage Day Matters
These days, we often forget the long, difficult journeys and the work our community, ancestors, and close family members undertook to secure better lives for us.
By taking time to celebrate culture, to see one another, and to listen to each other’s stories, we give ourselves the opportunity to recognise the sacrifice and hard work that helped build the communities we share today.
That is why Polish Heritage Day matters. It is not only about celebrating food, flags, and folklore, although those traditions remain deeply important.
It is also about recognising the generations of Polish people who helped build Bedford, creating lives here while maintaining pride in their heritage, and celebrating it.
My family’s story is only one among thousands, but it reflects something central to Bedford’s identity: communities thrive when people are given the chance not only to arrive, but truly to belong.
By Zofia Brady
PBIC
PBIC is a Bedford charity supporting migrants and refugees through advice,
advocacy, wellbeing and community integration services.
Our monthly community column is provided by
the Queen’s Park Community Organisation,
celebrating the people, cultures and grassroots groups
that help make Bedford such a vibrant and welcoming community.
Update: This article was updated at 10:42 on 15 May 2026 to make amendments to the final section at the request of the author
