In 1972, a vicious dictator called Idi Amin expelled tens of thousands of people from Uganda. They were of Asian descent. Many of the Uganda Asians arrived in Britain and some of them settled locally.
One of them was 16-year-old Vijay Patel.
Shortly after arriving in the UK, Vijay found work in a laundry, before becoming a newsagent.
Vijay is now retiring, after 41 years running his store in the Market Square, opposite the Town Hall..
He will be remembered with affection by the people of Higham Ferrers.
Footnote. President Idi Amin was a cannibal and mass murderer. Under his rule, between 100,000 and 500,000 people were killed. He was eventually overthrown and fled from Uganda. He was given sanctuary by Saudi Arabia, where he lived out his days.
With hindsight, the Uganda Asians were lucky to escape with their lives.
