The Polish dream of returning to a free Poland could not now be realised, so by accepting their plight and having overcome most of the hardships and the heartache of maybe never seeing their loved ones again, mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters left behind in a Poland firmly locked behind the iron curtain, families in the camp now concentrated on building a new life. Most were given more living space according to the size of the family, and people claimed a bit of garden by putting up little fences and gates around their huts. The unsightly Nissen huts were being disguised with climbing roses and flowers of every description and in the summer months everywhere was a blaze of colour. Most people also had an allotment where, besides growing a vast array of vegetables, many grew their own tobacco and in the late summer I remember row upon row of tobacco leaves strung up to dry in the covered walkways. A perfect place to dry out anything. The camp's authorities did eventually stamp out the practice.

I am sure in those days we could have won a Camp in Bloom Competition.

The war tore apart thousands of families, leaving in its wake lone men, women and children. In the late forties and early  fifties the red cross helped to unite many displaced families but they were also the bearers of sad news for those who's partners perished, sometimes without trace, like those that were murdered by the Soviets in Katyn.  Life had to go on and so in time new families were forged giving the war torn people a new lease of life and hope

Besides the once weekly flick show in the main hall, regular dances were held which were very popular and well attended by both young and old. There was always a Polish band plying waltzes tangos and fast polkas and in  the early 50s  people  from the neighbouring camp of Spring Hill would came to Northwick dances and I suppose vice versa. There was a lot of interaction between the camps  and when in 1958 Spring Hill camp finally closed, many residents came to live in Northwick and the dances continued. In the 60s life was getting better, people worked hard and became more affluent. Poles are known as hard workers and good savers. Some families were now in a position to move, leaving the camp to start new lives in a proper house, and the youth managed to changed their push bikes to a more advanced modes of transport