Parveen The Spice Queen: My life story and cookbook, part of a ‘love song to Peterborough’

When I met Ben Rogaly, University of Sussex Professor, I never thought that number one; I would be included in an eight year research project on Peterborough or number two that my cook book “Parveen The Spice Queen” would be featured in his book “Stories From A Migrant City”, which has been described in one endorsement as ‘a kind of love-song to Peterborough’.

Ben (pictured on a visit to the city) and his colleague Kaveri Qureshi interviewed 76 Peterborough residents and listened more than 100 Peterborough people’s stories in all.

The Peterborough residents’ stories are like a lens through which to better understand wider issues about places and how they change. The city’s history as a New Town development meant lots of migrants moved to Peterborough from London and elsewhere in the UK in the 1970s and 1980s.

As Ben shows in the book, seeing migration in new ways can help bring people together, making it less about ‘them’ and more about ‘us’.

My involvement with Ben did not end with an interview. After the first part of the project was completed, many of the participants celebrated with a huge tea party. Ben asked me to cater the event, so I decided to do dishes that one would have at a quintessentially English afternoon tea. I made a selection of delicate finger sandwiches with the crusts cut off; cucumber, salmon, egg and cress - and home-made scones with clotted cream and strawberries, carrot and chocolate cake - all washed down with nice cup of tea.

During the afternoon tea, people came up to the stage at the front to speak about their stories and what it meant to them. There was such a positive vibe in the room - I think the tea and cake helped!

There were people from all backgrounds, young and old, new arrivals to life-long residents, who all came together and spoke of their pride in the city.

I feel blessed to have been a part of it.

Ok. Time for some role reversal now, Ben had interviewed me, so time for me to interview Ben about the book, Peterborough and the most important question of all, did he like my chicken masala?

Just joking with you, let’s get on with the quesions.

1. Peterborough is a city that prides itself on its green credentials and its recycling schemes. As you know many people cycle, the city has a great infrastructure and strong network of footpath/cycle lanes and secure parking for bikes. I noticed that when we first met, you were also cycling whilst you stayed here. Was this one of the reasons you decided to do your research here?

As soon as I got word that I was going to be moving to Peterborough part-time in 2010, I went to a cycle shop in Queensgate and bought myself a second hand bike. Peterborough’s flat terrain and fantastic cycle ways are conducive to riding a bike. I felt that having a bike was a great way to get to know the city. I cycled everywhere from Fletton (where I was lodging): Werrington, Bretton, Paston, Parnwell, Millfield, New England, Ferry Meadows, The Ortons, Hampton…......Often I would be riding to a pre-arranged interview in someone’s house. As a mode of transport it made me feel at home.

2. We are from different walks of life, different backgrounds and cultures and yet during your time here and our interviews, we became friends. Why do you think that was?

When you told me your story of moving from Bradford down to London, and how it felt to live in London and be seen as a northerner, and then your family’s move to Peterborough, it just clicked with what I wanted to write about – it’s not just moves across international borders but also around the country that make so many people into newcomers at different times in their lives. This gives us all a bit more in common with each other than is often considered.

I found through listening to your life story and the stories of many others that the listening itself breaks down barriers.

We also had a lot to talk about with children of the same age going through secondary school and deciding about their futures. I married a woman with south Asian heritage too and there is a lot of Punjabi food and culture in my life. And yes, I absolutely love your food!

3. Now that your book is in print and your work is finished here, will you be coming back to visit us?

I have more friends in Peterborough now than I do in Brighton and I feel pulled here all the time by a strong sense of connection with people and with the city. The friendships are deep and I hope that as long as I live I will be able to keep coming back. I became close to people through sharing stories.

I’ve also collaborated with Peterborough writers and artists like yourself during my time as Writer-in-Residence at the arts organisation Metal, Peterborough film-maker Jay Gearing and I made the film Workers together.

Your book was such an important inspiration for my chapter on what Peterborough offers to the world in culinary ways and much more. The chapter title even starts with a quote from you, taken directly from one of our conversations ‘And then we just let our creativity take over’.

Chris Porsz’s book Reunions also forms a crucial part of the same chapter. I’m honoured that Chris allowed me to use one of his photographs as the cover for my book.

4. Finally Ben, are you pleased with the book and what does it mean to you personally more than professionally?

My family were urging me on because they could see the book taking me a long time to finish. It was a relief to them when I did. To me, it’s strange to think that all those conversations in Peterborough could be confined between the covers of a book. Of course they can’t. But I hope that when people read it they will be able to hear the diverse voices of Peterborough and see not only the city, but also the world, in a new light. One that, like COVID-19, can help us understand and appreciate our common humanity.

Ben Rogaly is author of Stories from a Migrant City: Living and Working Together in the Shadow of Brexit. Manchester University Press is offering the book for half price (£10), using code Stories50.