A Story from The Lunch Club........
From time to time we hope to bring you stories submitted by members of The Lunch Club. Here is the third in the series, from John Rawlins.
The earlier ones can be found in the Archive section of the website.
John Rawlins - My Story -
I was born in the Caribbean on the Island of St Kitts. I came to England on the 16thAugust 1959 at the age of 19. As a teenager I found it frightening yet exciting travelling to England( The Mother Country). It was my first time of travelling abroad. This gave me the opportunity to work and help my family in St Kitts financially.
Whilst living in Wednesbury, Sandwell, my neighbour went into
labour. Herhusband asked me to stay with her while he fetched the Doctor. While he was a way the baby started to arrive. I had to deliver the baby on my own. I remember being so scared as I did not know what I was doing. When the Doctor arrived mother and baby were both doing well. The baby is now a Grandmother, and her nickname for me is
“The Doctor”.
Before leaving St Kitts my cousin secured a job for me at Patent Shaft Steel Works. I arrived in England on the Sunday and started working on the Monday morning.
I worked as a labourer, but also trained as a spare man (spare man is when you are trained to cover other jobs if someone is away). I also worked at GKN Steel Work and Sertec Steel Work, Lichfield Road, Birmingham for five years as a power press operator until I was made redundant in 1994.
At the age of 14 I began singing with a Steel Band in St Kitts. I eventually
learnt to play the Steel Pan. I had many happy times singing and playing in the Band. When I moved to England I joined the St. Christopher Steel Band and used to meet in Small Heath area, Birmingham. I played with the Band for over 13years. There were seven of us in the band.
In1974 we appeared on the British Televison Talent Show “New Faces” and came 4th. I remember Lenny Henry was also on the show. The Steel Band also appeared on a T.V. Show called 'Tiswas' in the 80’s. This was a Saturday morning kids programme presented by Chris Tarrant.
Whilst on New Faces we were seen by a Mr Franklin who owned a Travel
Agency. He offered us a two week contract to play in a Hotel in Spain, Which we jumped at.
Apart from the St. Christopher Steel Band, I also played as a guest performer with Tropical Islanders Steel Band, Sunjest Steel Band, and the Caribbean Harmonics Steel Band.
During my time with the Band I used to travel around England, Scotland and Wales singing and playing in various Clubs, Hotels, and Public Houses.
I also had the opportunity to travel abroad and played in countries such as India, Dubai, Spain, and Germany, where we entertained mostly in the afternoon and in the evenings. Wherever we played we were always warmly received.
Whilst in Dubai we were not allowed to purchase alcohol. However, we
were told that if we travelled outside of Dubai we could buy as much alcohol as we wanted. We had to hide the bottles in our bags to enable us to get them into the hotel. We were always frightened that we would be caught and get arrested. At the time taking the risk was worth it.
When the Hotel Manager found out the risk we were taking he told us as Musicians we could purchase drinks from him as long as we drank it in the Hotel.
In the early 90’s the Tropical Islanders Steel Band, secured a three months contract to play on a Cruise Ship. We used to play on the deck in the evenings. The pay was poor, but I enjoyed the opportunity to visit various Caribbean islands.
Whilst playing with the Steel Bands I met many famous faces such as
Miss Diane (Susan Hanson) Benny (Paul Henry) and Meg Richardson (Noele Gordon) and many of the stars from Crossroads. I have also met Jack Douglas – (from the Carry on Films,) Kenny Lynch (singer) Roy Walker – (Comedian.) Johnny Murtaga, (Jockey) and Chris Tarrant.
During my time with the St Christopher Steel Band we made
a number of records. Our first record which was a LP was in the 60’s and called “Island in the Sun” I also made CD with Sunjest Steel Band and DVDs. with Harmonics Steel Band.
I have two children, 18 grandchildren and 2 Great Grand Children I am very disappointed that none of them are interested in playing the Steel
Pan.
I still meet up with a number of my friends from the Harmonics Steel Band and enjoy having a sing song with them. I eventually gave up playing in Steel Bands due to poor health.
I currently live with my wife in the Nechells area of Birmingham. Looking back I only came to England to live and work for a short time; however 53 years later I am still here.
I am still enjoying myself thanks to the Outreach Club which takes me out on a Monday and the Lunch Club which I attend on a Wednesday. Both are run by South Aston United Reformed Church.
I have met a lot of nice people who have become my friends since I started
attending and I would like to say thanks to the club.
John Rawlins
November 2012
You can listen to some of John's music by clicking here: -
http://youtu.be/wv9qNp-21Fc
From time to time we hope to bring you stories submitted by members of The Lunch Club. Here is the third in the series, from John Rawlins.
The earlier ones can be found in the Archive section of the website.
John Rawlins - My Story -
I was born in the Caribbean on the Island of St Kitts. I came to England on the 16thAugust 1959 at the age of 19. As a teenager I found it frightening yet exciting travelling to England( The Mother Country). It was my first time of travelling abroad. This gave me the opportunity to work and help my family in St Kitts financially.
Whilst living in Wednesbury, Sandwell, my neighbour went into
labour. Herhusband asked me to stay with her while he fetched the Doctor. While he was a way the baby started to arrive. I had to deliver the baby on my own. I remember being so scared as I did not know what I was doing. When the Doctor arrived mother and baby were both doing well. The baby is now a Grandmother, and her nickname for me is
“The Doctor”.
Before leaving St Kitts my cousin secured a job for me at Patent Shaft Steel Works. I arrived in England on the Sunday and started working on the Monday morning.
I worked as a labourer, but also trained as a spare man (spare man is when you are trained to cover other jobs if someone is away). I also worked at GKN Steel Work and Sertec Steel Work, Lichfield Road, Birmingham for five years as a power press operator until I was made redundant in 1994.
At the age of 14 I began singing with a Steel Band in St Kitts. I eventually
learnt to play the Steel Pan. I had many happy times singing and playing in the Band. When I moved to England I joined the St. Christopher Steel Band and used to meet in Small Heath area, Birmingham. I played with the Band for over 13years. There were seven of us in the band.
In1974 we appeared on the British Televison Talent Show “New Faces” and came 4th. I remember Lenny Henry was also on the show. The Steel Band also appeared on a T.V. Show called 'Tiswas' in the 80’s. This was a Saturday morning kids programme presented by Chris Tarrant.
Whilst on New Faces we were seen by a Mr Franklin who owned a Travel
Agency. He offered us a two week contract to play in a Hotel in Spain, Which we jumped at.
Apart from the St. Christopher Steel Band, I also played as a guest performer with Tropical Islanders Steel Band, Sunjest Steel Band, and the Caribbean Harmonics Steel Band.
During my time with the Band I used to travel around England, Scotland and Wales singing and playing in various Clubs, Hotels, and Public Houses.
I also had the opportunity to travel abroad and played in countries such as India, Dubai, Spain, and Germany, where we entertained mostly in the afternoon and in the evenings. Wherever we played we were always warmly received.
Whilst in Dubai we were not allowed to purchase alcohol. However, we
were told that if we travelled outside of Dubai we could buy as much alcohol as we wanted. We had to hide the bottles in our bags to enable us to get them into the hotel. We were always frightened that we would be caught and get arrested. At the time taking the risk was worth it.
When the Hotel Manager found out the risk we were taking he told us as Musicians we could purchase drinks from him as long as we drank it in the Hotel.
In the early 90’s the Tropical Islanders Steel Band, secured a three months contract to play on a Cruise Ship. We used to play on the deck in the evenings. The pay was poor, but I enjoyed the opportunity to visit various Caribbean islands.
Whilst playing with the Steel Bands I met many famous faces such as
Miss Diane (Susan Hanson) Benny (Paul Henry) and Meg Richardson (Noele Gordon) and many of the stars from Crossroads. I have also met Jack Douglas – (from the Carry on Films,) Kenny Lynch (singer) Roy Walker – (Comedian.) Johnny Murtaga, (Jockey) and Chris Tarrant.
During my time with the St Christopher Steel Band we made
a number of records. Our first record which was a LP was in the 60’s and called “Island in the Sun” I also made CD with Sunjest Steel Band and DVDs. with Harmonics Steel Band.
I have two children, 18 grandchildren and 2 Great Grand Children I am very disappointed that none of them are interested in playing the Steel
Pan.
I still meet up with a number of my friends from the Harmonics Steel Band and enjoy having a sing song with them. I eventually gave up playing in Steel Bands due to poor health.
I currently live with my wife in the Nechells area of Birmingham. Looking back I only came to England to live and work for a short time; however 53 years later I am still here.
I am still enjoying myself thanks to the Outreach Club which takes me out on a Monday and the Lunch Club which I attend on a Wednesday. Both are run by South Aston United Reformed Church.
I have met a lot of nice people who have become my friends since I started
attending and I would like to say thanks to the club.
John Rawlins
November 2012
You can listen to some of John's music by clicking here: -
http://youtu.be/wv9qNp-21Fc
John at the time when he came to England
A more recent photo of John
