BBC Radio 4 FM

BBC Radio 4 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced BBC Home Service.

BBC Radio 4

Radio 4

Radio 4 (FM)

Journeys Down My Street

Journeys Down My Street: Ode to Finchleystrasse

Journeys down My Street

Ode to Finchleystrasse

BBC Radio 4 - Journeys Down My Street, Ode to Finchleystrasse

Older generations of immigrants to Britain share their stories.

Mike Berlin recalls some Austrian refugees’ desires to recreate the best of Vienna when arriving in wartime UK.  From 2013.

Amidst all the coverage of contemporary migration to Britain, it is easy to forget the older generations of immigrants, from across the world, who have settled here and made Britain their home.

In this series, Mike Berlin, an urban historian from Birkbeck College, University of London, visits individual streets at the heart of such communities, to hear the stories of earlier immigrants - their arrival, their early lives and their observations on Britain today.

In this episode: 

After the Nazi annexation of Austria in March 1938, Vienna's large Jewish community fled -  some to Glasgow and Manchester but the vast majority to the area of North-West London close to Swiss Cottage. 

The area became so full of German-speaking refugees that anecdotes tell of war-time bus conductors calling out "Finchleystrasse - Passports Please!" as the bus drew up at the top of the Finchley Road. 

The shops and cafes are no longer there, but a vibrant group of elderly refugees share their memories of Finchleystrasse with historian Mike Berlin and reflect on their conflicting desires to recreate the best of Vienna whilst assimilating into British society.  

Producer: Beaty Rubens

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 2013.

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Documentaries

Factual

Immigrants to Britain share their stories from the heart of their communities

Immigrants to Britain share their stories from the heart of their communities with Mike Berlin

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Journeys Down My Street

Ode to Finchleystrasse

Genres

Series

BBC Radio 4 FM

About BBC Radio 4