9 Times Britain Got Better When We Welcomed Refugees

Just ask Percy Pig or Mario Stanic.

1. When Victor Hugo dreamed a dream. And Russell Crowe... Well, never mind.

Source: imgur.com

Victor Hugo was a great French writer whose opposition to Napoleon III’s rule led him to flee to Guernsey. Today, he’s best known as the author of Les Miserables – a novel that inspired the musical that’s been running in the West End since forever. Or 1985. Oscar-winning Anne Hathaway’s loving it too.

2. When Mario Stanic scored this belter for Chelsea.

Source: youtube.com

The striker fled Croatia in 1992 during the Bosnian War. He sought refuge first in Italy, where he played for Parma, and then moved to the UK following a transfer to Chelsea. He scored a hat trick on his debut for the London club, including this MOTD Goal of the Season contender from 35 yards.

3. When we mocked the Millennium Dome – and then decided we loved it anyway.

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World War Two forced Richard Rogers's family to leave Italy and make a new home in the UK. He became a brilliant architect, designing London's Millennium Dome. Even though the Dome "couldn't have had a worse reception if you'd worked hard to deliberately upset everybody" (his words), it's now an iconic part of the London skyline and a world-famous music venue.

4. When Michael Caine took a job in Italy.

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Most people remember two things about The Italian Job: one, they were only meant to blow the doors off and, two, Minis look very cool being driven fast through the streets of Turin. Sir Alec Issigonis made this last part possible, designing the Mini in Britain after being evacuated from Turkey at the end of the First World War.

5. When Baldrick had a cunning plan...

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...As cunning as a fox who's just been appointed Professor of Cunning at Oxford University.

Because one of Blackadder’s creators, Ben Elton, is the grandson of a Czech refugee who fled to Britain in 1939.

6. When the charts got a big new Voice...

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Rita Ora moved to the UK as a refugee when she was just a baby – thanks to her parents’ determination to get the family to safety before war broke out in Kosovo. These days she’s topping the UK charts, starring in films, running a company and being a judge on massive shows like The X-Factor and The Voice. And Instagram wouldn’t be the same without all her selfies, either.

7. When we realised fish suppers were really pun.

Source: bbc.co.uk

From The Codfather to Northern Sole, we all love a good fish and chip shop pun. Some might say “there’s nothing more British than fish ‘n’ chips”. And others might say, “actually, fish and chips were brought to the UK by refugees expelled from Portugal in the 17th century”. We say: set another plaice at the table.

8. When Percy Pigs became an acceptable craving for fully grown adults.

Source: metro.co.uk

These pig-shaped sugary treats from Marks & Spencer’s have amassed a bit of a cult following – two of the squidgy pigs are eaten every second here in the UK. And that’s partly down to Michael Marks, the store’s co-founder who came to the UK more than 130 years ago – arriving as a refugee from Belarus.

9. When you said one thing and realised you actually meant your mother.

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From his interpretation of dreams to the classic Freudian slip, Sigmund is one gifted academic who knows what it means to go mainstream. He fled to the UK in 1938 to escape the Nazis and, having cemented his legacy as the godfather of psychoanalysis, the Austrian neurologist wrote his last two books in London.

Now let's add more names to the list.

Throughout history, Britain's been there for refugees – world-famous or not. For centuries, we have shown compassion and stood as one with people who were forced to leave everything behind.

On this day 65 years ago, a UN convention was agreed to respect and protect the rights of refugees, meaning millions were given safe havens over the following decades.

Now's the time to stand with refugees once more. Please join Oxfam and Stand As One with refugees worldwide. Call on the Government to do more to help people who've been forced to flee their homes, to keep them safe from harm and to prevent families from being separated.

Sign the petition: www.oxfam.org.uk/stand