ARRIVING 2: MORE FIRST IMPRESSIONS
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 Edwin
EDWIN: I arrived here from Dominica in 1960 December 23rd. My first cousin lived here at 227 Portobello Road. I asked him to pay my passage. I had to pay him back. Four days after arriving I got a little job at the Cumberland hotel, Marble Arch. For three weeks I work at the Cumberland hotel. I aked my cousin....he also a carpenter to get a job for me where he working. He told me, "It is too early in the cold weather to get a job for you".
But I tell him don't worry. It is OKAY. |
Norma
NORMA: My first impression: It was a dump! We were invited to the "Mother Country" to work for London Transport, J Lyons, the Post Office and the hospitals. Those who came in first helped the others. They only brought over the most highly educated people from Barbados.
People started coming from 1954. We all had to take a test to show our abilities to do certain jobs. In 1958 I came by boat from Barbados, then train to Victoria. Then I took a Greyline coach to Watford. Then I went to Handsworth, Birmingham where I spent 5 years. I came to London training to be a nurse, got ill with rheumatic fever and had to leave.
In 1963/64 I came to St Ervan's Road, North Kensington for work at J. Lyons. The landlady where I lived was Jamaican.
People started coming from 1954. We all had to take a test to show our abilities to do certain jobs. In 1958 I came by boat from Barbados, then train to Victoria. Then I took a Greyline coach to Watford. Then I went to Handsworth, Birmingham where I spent 5 years. I came to London training to be a nurse, got ill with rheumatic fever and had to leave.
In 1963/64 I came to St Ervan's Road, North Kensington for work at J. Lyons. The landlady where I lived was Jamaican.
 Rena
RENA: I arrived from Jamaica in 1951 by plane to Heathrow. My first impression was.
It is dark and dull here. My husband was already here. I came to join him in Shepherds Bush. We only stayed there a few weeks then moved. I had an Irish neighbour - like a sister. I am a good mixer I get on with other people, black and white.  Marcus
MARCUS: One of the stewards allowed me to go to the cockpit in the plane to see the view from the front.
I came from St. Vincent. I was 14 years old when I arrived in High Wycombe in the 1960s. It was summer time. People were walking around almost naked in mini skirts. I lived there for 9 years but there were too many hills. Sometimes in the winter time the buses can’t go up the top of the hills. |
 Lynette
LYNETTE: In 1962 when I left Guyana and get here you are lonely. I spent some time with my aunt. I went straight into a hospital to do nursing in Ashford, Kent.
My aunt here sent me a coat covering up my nice clothes. I was almost 18 years old when I came, It was a 21 days journey.  Ripply
RIPPLY: I was eight. I cried and cried when I left my Aunt Rose. My older sister put me on the plane from Jamaica to London. I was wearing a pretty pink dress and I remember that someone put a cardigan around my shoulders when I left the plane. My first impressions were that it was cold in England, no colouring, closed in feeling with the buildings. It seemed like a 'funny country'.
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