| Description | An interview with Earl BARROW, a married man with one son, who is a BT motor technician, born in Barbados and now living in Birmingham. Earl BARROW’s father was a Manager of sugar plantation, born in Barbados and his mother a Housewife born in Barbados. In the interview, he talks about …
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I’m Earl Kendrick Barrow, my date of birth is 29th November,1932 and I’m from the island of Barbados. Brought up by father who was a relief manager on the railways. Had a stepmother. Father moved on to manage a sugar plantation.
1.11 My childhood days was much different from other children on the island….because at that time there was a lot of class distinction….it grieved me…I couldn’t understand it, I was allowed to play with the children at school and yet, on my way home, I wasn’t allowed to play with them…
2.43 Attended a private school. My sole aim was to become a carpenter. My dad did not want that…..one would follow in his footsteps….. I didn’t want that….Older brother was a motor mechanic, followed brother into that trade at age 14.
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When I came to this country it was the real thing, because I had to get up, go to work…look after myself….whereas in Barbados on the plantation there were servants to do things….I had some nasty things said to me…. by the people who knew me at home and who I’d now come to share digs with…..
1.09 Story about decision to come to England.
3.13 I remember I was at work….and an Englishman….said to me, you don’t look right, is there anything wrong?….I showed him the letter….he said, “when I was 12 I had to go to work to look after the family…you’ve had a gold spoon in your mouth!….” Somehow I heeded to what he said…
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40” My first day of arriving here put me off. I landed in Plymouth….Story about travelling to Ipswich.
3.21 Didn’t experience resentment from the locals in Ipswich.
3.48 In 1956 I came to Birmingham and after about 3 months I went to work for Birmingham City Transport as a bus conductor, then as a driver….our workmates….if there was any hatred they kept it to themselves, but the jolly Evening Mail and Despatch they had a lot to say about us. It was terrible.
4.44 I remember…if I was not travelling in my bus uniform, but in civilian clothes it was the best ride I had on the buses because….nobody sat beside me….
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Continues to reveal racism and ignorance on the buses.
1.29 They knew nothing about us, they only heard of Jamaica…at that time any black man was a Jamaican!….
2.28 Thoughts about the stories printed in the Evening Mail.
3.44 I remember when the black people first went on the buses because…every evening there was something about it….the transport turned around and said to the public they wouldn’t be made drivers….but they had to use us as drivers.
4.19 Dress code on the buses.
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Story about a colleague who disobeyed the dress code.
1.10 When people get on the bus and be awkward, the dept. says you shouldn’t argue with them because the customer is always right….
1.54 When I arrived here I thought about going into the motor mechanic field, but I saw the working conditions and didn’t like it at all….it was rough….
2.47 I bought my first car and I used to pay a garage to service it. Story about problem with car.
4.21 I went to Hall Green Technical College and did City & Guilds….
Story about attempting to return to the motor trade.
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Continues story.
1.28 I went to the Govt Training place, did 6 months, came out and went straight to British Telecom.
1.56 I started in 1970 and I finished in 1992….because I had a thrombosis in the leg.
2.28 Wife is from St.Kitts. Story about how they met working on the buses.
3.08 I joined a church, she was already in the church (Assemblies of God)….it was Easter Bank Holiday and I went to work and she was my conductress….
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I wasn’t happy in my church, even before then….I wanted to get out of it, and when I saw this church I was really happy…The church that I formerly attended was a black church and at that time we weren’t given a very good welcome in the white churches….Then when I went to this church….it was like I was accustomed to….When I got used to the church I’d say this is like the United Nations here….I was there for about 30 years….
3.09 New church is much more hectic. Young church.
4.47 I look at young black people in a very different way….they say they’ve got problems, they make the problems themselves….When I pass through town and I see them congregate together and when I hear of them vandalising….I deplore that sort of thing….I blame the government too….
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Continues to discuss changes in societal behaviour.
2.43 Social life when first arrived in the country.
3.35 We were strangers here, especially in Birmingham, we were not accepted in certain clubs….
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Accommodation in Birmingham.
Lived in Small Heath for some time.
1.44 I moved to Castle Vale to a new multi-storey block of flats….from 1967-8….then I moved into a house in 1969….my neighbours there were very good….
4.05 Story about discovering graffiti on garage door.
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Continues story.
3.24 Regarding Castle Vale: It was a nice area, to live in, but you get any and every sort of people there and….. there was cruelty to animals….if you take your clothes to dry on the roof….somebody would go and take them…..
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22” Because at that time the security of these flats is not like it is today….that is one of the things which forced me into getting my own house….
1.25 Wife left working at the buses to become a nurse.
3.22 Son Anthony was born in 1971. Studies acting at university.
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Anthony’s schooling.
1.49 Youth work at the church.
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1.03 Contrast between immigrants in the 50s and today.
2.15 We were never allowed to do this and we are British subjects, these people are not, and look how they are cared for. When we first came over into this country we had to find our own way….
ENDS
Logged by Lorraine Blakemore |