Adopting the Dragon

All this week we have told you the extraordinary story of Tonfanau - the North Wales community that helped hundreds of Asian refugees who were thrown out of Uganda by the dictator Idi Amin in the 1970s.

Azim Somani took on the role of head of the family at the age of 17, after his father became too distraught from the trauma.

We followed him as he returned to the camp with his son Shamir.

Last night Wales This Week told the extraordinary story of the North Wales community that helped hundreds of Asian refugees who were thrown out of Uganda by the dictator Idi Amin in the 1970s.

30,000 refugees came from Uganda to seek safety in Britain.

Many ended up at a camp that was created for them at an empty military base at Tonfanau near Aberdovey.

Once there, they were helped by a small army of Welsh volunteers.

Margretta Young-Jones helped the refugees and was featured in 'Adopting the Dragon.'

In the autumn of 1972, a remote corner of North Wales became a safe haven for more than 1,000 Ugandan Asians who had been expelled from their country by its ruling dictator Idi Amin.

30,000 refugees came from Uganda to the UK and many settled at a camp that was created for them at an empty military base at Tonfanau near Aberdovey.

'Adopting the Dragon', is tonight's Wales this Week episode at 7.30pm.

The programme looks at the fascinating story of Wales' Ugandan Asian refugees.

And all of this week, Wales Tonight will feature the stories of the refugees who found safety here and the local volunteers who helped them.

On August 5th 1972, Ugandan president Idi Amin announced a chilling message that would turn lives upside-down forever.

Thousands of non-native Asians were to be expelled from Uganda after the President claimed that they were ‘economic bloodsuckers’ who were exploiting the wealth of the country at the expense of native Africans.

They were given 90 days to get out - leaving everything behind. In all, almost 30,000 Ugandan Asians came to the UK and many went to 12 resettlement camps nationwide.

ITV Wales followed that story back in 1972 and now, with the perspective of 40 years, Wales This Week can show what those families faced and how they moved on with their lives since that time.

Catch: Wales This Week - Adopting The Dragon, Tuesday 31st July on ITV1 Wales at 1930.