• Home
  • About Us
  • User Groups
  • Minister's Page
  • Church Diary
  • Our History
    • Park Road
    • Wheeler Street
  • Contact Us
  • Archive
    • Lunch Club Christmas Lunch 2016
    • Sunday 11 December 2016
    • Aston Heritage/Fun Day 2016
    • May's 100th
    • Louise Lewis
    • Carmen
    • Songs of Praise
    • Winter Night Shelter Report 2016
    • Jim Hastie
    • December 13th Service
    • Family Fun Day
    • Lunch Club Christmas Lunch 2015
    • Archbishop's visit
    • Christmas Fayre 2014
    • Keith Hancox
    • 40th Anniversary
    • Edith Eggison
    • 40th Celebrations at the Lunch Club
    • John Deeming
    • Lunch Club - We Remember
    • WW1 at the Lunch Club
    • Rose Shakespeare >
      • Audrey Semmens Story
      • Alma's story
      • Rene's War
      • Jean's and Stephanie's Stories
      • John Rawlins
      • Rene
      • Helen's Story
      • Josephine's story
      • Lil's story
      • Ruby's Story
    • Diamond Jubilee - Lunch Club
    • Lunch Club Celebrates 50years of Jamaican Independence
    • Diamond Jubilee >
      • Diamond Jubilee Tea Party
  • Lunch Club
    • Lunch Club Photos
  • Room Lettings
  • History Group Introduction
    • History Group Reports 2015
    • History Group Reports >
      • History Group - Soho House
  • Winter Night Shelter 2017
  • Stories from the Lunch Club Members
  • Cafe 4 All
  • Members' Stories Project
  • Aston 4 All Ramblers
  • History Group 7th March 2017
  • Past Case Review Statement
  • Walk of Witness 2017
  • Pentecost 2017
  • Anne Baker
  • Easter 2017
  • Barry Jackson Tower
  • Daily Devotions
  • Harvest Festival
  • History Group next meeting
  • Operation Christmas Child 2020
  • Lunch Club 04/10/17
  • Harvest Festival 2017
  • Lunch Club Remembers 2017
  • Carol Singing at Tesco 2017
  • Winter Night Shelter 2018
  • Volunteers Meal 2018
  • Cafe Active Launch
  • Ladywood performance report
  • Macmillan 2018
  • Sabbatical Sketch Oct
  • St Basils appeal 2020
  • Peter's Induction
  • Concert
  • Easter 2019 Photos
  • Community Fun Day 2019
  • Forthcoming Events 2019
  • Macmillan's and Harvest week-end
  • Special Visitors
  • BB presntation of colours
  • Remembrance Sunday 2019
  • Iris's 90th
  • Church Magazine 2019
  • Lunch Club Christmas Party 2019
  • Christmas 2019
  • Barry Jackson Tower Welcome Packs
  • Tuesday Activity Club
  • Prayer 2020
  • Tips Page
  • More Tips
  • The Moderator's Christmas Message
  • A message for these times
  • Coronavirus
  • Kepping in Touch
  • Need some Help?
  • Secretary's Letter
  • We Will Meet
  • Plans for Church re opening
  • Welcome back
  • Harvest Festival 2020
  • Macmillan Morning 2020
  • Quiz Night 2020
  • Carrs Lane FairTrade shop
  • Thoughts for Advent
  • 2021 Preachers List
  • Thoughts for a New Year
  • Connecting with Our Community
  South Aston United Reformed Church
Add text

Alma’s story from South Aston Lunch Club

I was born in Belize
. (Belize is situated on the North-eastern coast of Central America. Belize was formerly know as British Honduras until 1973)

I attended St Catherine Convent until I was thirteen. After leaving the Convent, I went on to study shorthand and typing at College.

My father Lewellin Edward Ysaguirre was the District Commissioner. The District Commissioner was equivalent to a judge. He was a very important person, and his job was well paid.

I remember growing up in a wealthy area in Corozal Belize, living in a big house, near by the sea, with servants to help us. Although my father was very strict with us, I had an enjoyable childhood.  I spent a lot of the time with my three brothers and two sisters on the beach and playing in the water. We were a very close family.

I married when I was 23 years old. I have six children.  My husband was a solider which meant he was often posted to different countries. We lived in Ireland,
Southampton, and Jamaica before moving back to Belize where my husband was finally demobbed.  

When I lived in Jamaica I met Nat King Cole outside the ‘Carb. Picture House.’ I was very surprised to see him, but did not get a chance to speak to him.

In the early fifties my husband and I finally settled in
Birmingham, after constantly moving around.  Unfortunately we later divorced and I became a single parent.

Caring for six children on my own was very difficult. Money was always tight, but we made do. I always put my children first and made sure they did not go without.
Although life was difficult, I had lots of good times with my children when they were growing up.

My children are adults now and are doing well. I am very proud of them. 
 
In regards to  my hobbies.  I have always enjoyed sewing, gardening, cooking. Crochet and knitting.  I taught my daughter to sew and bake.
She enjoys doing this and is always making cakes, for family and friends.    
 
I made all my children’s clothes and jumpers etc when they were growing up. When my children were young and attending St Chad’s RC School, I did a lot of Voluntary work at the school.

Growing up in the 60’s was fun. I was very skinny and use to like wearing the latest fashion. I also enjoyed listening to music by the Rolling Stones, Beatles and Johnny Ray. I love to go on days outings; my favourite
place to go is Strafford upon Avon.

Living in England was very different from Belize. 
I remember when I first arrived I was very cold and the food was so different.  It took some getting use to but I managed it eventually.  The people were friendly and
treated me good. 
I did not go back to Belize until 1975 (24 years after coming to the UK.)  Since then I have been “home” many times.  Five of my children have also been to Belize on holiday and they love it.  I don’t feel Belize has changed that much over the years. 

I started going to the South Aston Lunch Club as I needed to get out a bit more so this was an opportunity. I attend the Lunch Club on Wednesdays.  I like attending and I have made many friends.

Alma
On the Beach 1950s
Picture
At the Lunch Club 2014
Picture
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.