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His
family was very poor, so he left home when he was 13 years old and
joined the O'Neal steamship line of New Zealand as a seaman.
He
was there for a long time but when the Second World War started
he had to leave New Zealand and came to this country, joining the
Merchant Navy.
After
three years of service without any holidays, the war finished and
Namder resigned as a petty officer from the Merchant Navy.
No
controversy
On
his departure, he recalls that he was assured that if unable to
find work outside the service, he would be welcome back anytime.
He
first went to Birmingham and bought a small business - a continental
grocery shop.
Two
years later, he opened another business in the Handsworth area of
Birmingham but it was not so successful, so he sold everything and
moved to settle in Cheltenham, opening a restaurant at 30 High Street,
which was
the only Bengali restaurant in Cheltenham at the time and Namder
was the only Bengali person in the town.
I
am 87 years old now and with my wife and children and grand-children
I am a very happy man.  |
| Namder
Meah |
The
business was a success as he had both an English and Bengali chef
for different foods. He opened another restaurant in Bath but found
it very hard to get staff, so was forced to sell the establishment.
After
many years he sold the restaurant in Cheltenham and retired.
Now
he is doing charity work, making mimbas for mosques - traditional
step-like features from which the priest calls the congregation
to pray.
Namder
married about 40 years ago. His wife Joselyn Winifred Meah is English.
They
married in London when she was 19 years old and everyone in the
community was very happy for them both. There was no controversy.
Very
happy
The
couple have two daughters and two grand-daughters. All of them are
married to English people and are very happy.
Namder
says that he likes living in Cheltenham and would never want to
leave his children behind. He has only gone back to Bangladesh twice
and his parents and brother are now both dead.
"My
wife and I bought this house together," he says. "I worked
hard to make this house nice. I like to do gardening. My daughters
look after us. I am 87 years old now and with my wife and children
and grandchildren I am a very happy man."
»
See 'The Bangladeshi Community'
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