| Description | An interview with Evelyn, a widow woman with two sons, who is a retired Cook, born in Jamaica and now living in Birmingham. Evelyn’s father was a Carpenter, born in Jamaica and her mother a Unknown born in Jamaica. In the interview, she talks about …
'Evelyn MS2255/2/024 Logged by Lorraine Blakemore
01
I was born in Jamaica, 1926 on the 27th January…and I came over to this country when I was 30 years old. Husband arrived here before Evelyn who remained in Jamaica with the 2 sons. I arrived in October, 1964… didn’t know anything about England. On arrival experienced lots of foggy weather.
2.23 Got a job and tried to save money to send for the son still living in Jamaica.
3.08 Some morning I said, “I don’t want to go to work”. I was treated as, I don’t know what to say, they give me the hardest work to do, less money…called me Miss Monkey…. So one morning one of them says to me, “could you make me a cup of tea?”, “No, I don’t think monkeys can make tea”. But within me being a Christian, I don’t want to retaliate back to them….
02
Continues story.
Worked there until 1966. Suffered ill-health-chickenpox. Wanted to return to Jamaica. Felt very nervous out of the home, especially when shopping.
3.53 Shared house with other Jamaican tenants. Many problems regarding use of facilities.
03
Council wanted to reclaim the house, so they were re-housed. However, the property had a damp problem. After lodging a complaint, Evelyn decided to seek out a group of new council properties in Highgate. The family moved into Canford Close in November, 1969.
3.55 Worked on an assembly line wiring small articles. Suffered bullying at work.
04
Continues anecdote about difficulties at work.
1.39 Describes Jamaica and growing up there. Distinguishes between the white friends she had in Jamaica and the people in UK.
05
Suffers from glaucoma, diabetes and asthma.
1.24 In 1976 went to work at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Still found it difficult to relate to other staff.
3.15 Went back to Jamaica in1977. Husband wanted to go home, but Evelyn didn’t want to leave England. She had obtained citizenship and felt more comfortable.
06
Education in UK was free whereas a good education in Jamaica was costly.
2.26 Adapted to life in UK and gradually felt more confident.
07
Feels that occasionally people will comment if a white person is seen talking to a black person.
3.24 In the 70s, people would look at you like you don’t count. Some of them, if you’re standing speaking to them, like they don’t want you to speak….
08
Relates how she met her husband, married and had 2 sons.
3.00 Upon arrival in England. I didn’t want to stop here. The place was cold. We’d never seen snow…frost….It was November we had the big fog and at the same time the government says, nobody can come any more.
09
Didn’t like anything about England.
1.50 Had a very close relationship with her immediate neighbours, who are now both deceased.
10
Neighbours in previous house were also helpful and friendly.
1.33 Going to church here, we only mix with black people, not a lot of white people…. We go to Oxford Road, Moseley, there’s a big church there…we link together….
3.50 Used to attend a community centre in Kings Heath, but stopped because the group would not talk about Christ.
11
Now attends a more local community centre near her home and feels that it is much better.
12
Discusses how she preferred her children to remain at home. Feared they would get into trouble.
13
Grandchildren are not so well behaved. Worries about how crime is worse and the lack of discipline.
14
50” You know, if I’m going through the gate and I see 3 or 4 children stand there, I come back in, sit down and shut the door. I go to the kitchen window and watch them, see if they move, then I go through the door.
ENDS |