Balqees Akhtar Ali
Born in Pakistan, Balqees came to England at the age of 17, after she got married in 1974 to her Kala's son. She came to live in Huddersfield with her husband, mother and father-in-law and five of her husbands siblings. They all lived on Bankfield Road in Woodthorpe Terrace in the 70's from which Balqees, her husband Asghar and two sons later moved to their own home in Norwood Road, Birkby which they bought for £14,000, a high price for a first home. 
Balqees was home educated in Pakistan and was taught sewing and embrodiery skills from her mother, which came in useful for her later, as she worked for a 'hobby' to get her out of the house and meet people, as Balqees' first job and priority was her home. She now works for a Learning Disability School in Newsome and enjoys dividing her time between work, family and grandchildren.
Listen to Balqees' interview in punjabi or you can read her transcript in English. 