Josephine's story
I was born in Kingston, Jamaica. I went to the Alpha School and then the Technical School where I trained in Pastry Cooking.
My father died when I was 6 years old. I remember my mother having to work really hard cooking, and baking to make sure I did not go without. I had my own room, I had the best to eat, and wear. My mother would spoil me and anything I wanted she gave me. We were really close and sometimes we would dress the same.
We were not rich, but we were well off compared to others. Our house was the best one in the area, and we had a telephone. Having a telephone was quite rare at the time and people in the neighbourhood were always coming to our house to use the phone to call or receive messages from there family abroad.
My mother remarried when I was a teenager, and had three children. As the eldest I had to help her care for them. It was never the same as when it was just me and my mum
Looking back, I can honestly say that my childhood in Jamaica was a happy one. The sun was always shinning. I had many friends and we were always out playing either games, skipping, or on home made swings. One gameI remember quite well is *Go DownManuel Road. (This is a game played with stones whilst sitting in a circle. The players pass stones in rhythm from one player to the other as they sing. As the singing gets faster the players attempts to avoid an accidental
collision between the circulating object and their hands.
This was mainly played on moonshine nights, when the night was bright and we could see to play outside.
I was a member of the Scout movement in Jamaica, and became assistant Scout Leader. I remember one year we had a big Scouts and Guide Rally at Kings House, in Kingston. Lady Baden- Powell and Princess Alice (Queen’s aunt) both attended. I was very excited to meet such famous people.
In the 1950’s a friend encouraged me to travel to England. I travelled by boat which stopped at different Caribbean Island. I found this very enjoyable as I had never been on a boat before. I made a lot of friends during the journey and when arrived in England it was winter. The first thing I caught when I arrived in Birmingham was chilblain.
In the 50’s it was hard to get somewhere to live. We were only able to get rooms to rent from black landlords. Some of landlords were very fussy and would not let us use the front door. I remember one house that I lived in the landlord made all the tenants use the back door to get into the house.
I got married in 1954 and was able to purchase my own house in Cannon Hill. My husband and I had seven children. Whilst they were growing up I worked as a pastry cook in Broad Street, and later in Great Hampton Street doing assembling work.
1982 when the children were older, my husband and I moved to New York to join my brother. It was not hard to get a job, then, and I got a job straight away as a home care worker. I found the Americans very friendly.
They would always smile and greet me even when they did not know me. I enjoyed living in America using the subway. I never experienced any problem living in
America. My husband and I had hoped the children would move to America as well, but they decided they would rather remain in England. We lived in USA for ten years before returning to Birmingham. I am still in regular contacts with friends I made living in America.
I am very proud of all my children who have studied hard and are all in good jobs. They are married and settled in different parts of the world. ie Germany, Australia, Wales, London and Birmingham. I have 8 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. I am in regular contacts with my
children and grand children.
My photograph was taken when I went to visit my son and his family in Australia. I travelled for over 20 hours, and was there for four weeks. My family took me around showing me the sights. I had a great time in Australia.
I was brought up in the Catholic faith. After I married my family and I began attending Camp Hill Seventh-Day Adventist Church.(The name Seventh-day Adventist is based on the Church's observance of the "biblical Sabbath" on Saturday, the seventh day of the week).
My Christian faith isvery important to me.
I have been a member of Camp Hill Church for over 50 years. I used to be very active in the Church, and would visit the sick at home or in hospital. I also used to enjoy going out on church outings, and picnics.
I enjoy listening to Classical and Religious Music.
I have been coming to South Aston Lunch Club for nearly a year. I did try a couple of Lunch Clubs but did not settle. I enjoy going to the Lunch Club on a Wednesday and I have made a number of friends.
Josephine
April 2013
*MANUEL ROAD SONG.
Go dung a Manuel Road, gal an bwoy,
Fe go bruk rock stone, gal an bwoy.
Go dung a Manuel Road, gal an bwoy,
Fe go bruk rock stone, gal an bwoy.
Bruk dem one by one, gal an bwoy,
Bruk dem two by two, gal an bwoy,
Finga mash, no cry, gal an bwoy,
Memba a play we a play, gal an bwoy.
Go dung a Manuel Road, gal an bwoy,
Fe go bruk rock stone, gal an bwoy.
Go dung a Manuel Road, gal an bwoy,
Fe go bruk rock stone, gal an bwoy.
Bruk dem two by two, gal an bwoy,
Bruk dem three by three, gal an bwoy,
Finga mash, no cry, gal an bwoy,
Memba a play we a play, gal an bwoy.
Listen to the song about Manuel Road
http://www.jambalayah.com/node/931
I was born in Kingston, Jamaica. I went to the Alpha School and then the Technical School where I trained in Pastry Cooking.
My father died when I was 6 years old. I remember my mother having to work really hard cooking, and baking to make sure I did not go without. I had my own room, I had the best to eat, and wear. My mother would spoil me and anything I wanted she gave me. We were really close and sometimes we would dress the same.
We were not rich, but we were well off compared to others. Our house was the best one in the area, and we had a telephone. Having a telephone was quite rare at the time and people in the neighbourhood were always coming to our house to use the phone to call or receive messages from there family abroad.
My mother remarried when I was a teenager, and had three children. As the eldest I had to help her care for them. It was never the same as when it was just me and my mum
Looking back, I can honestly say that my childhood in Jamaica was a happy one. The sun was always shinning. I had many friends and we were always out playing either games, skipping, or on home made swings. One gameI remember quite well is *Go DownManuel Road. (This is a game played with stones whilst sitting in a circle. The players pass stones in rhythm from one player to the other as they sing. As the singing gets faster the players attempts to avoid an accidental
collision between the circulating object and their hands.
This was mainly played on moonshine nights, when the night was bright and we could see to play outside.
I was a member of the Scout movement in Jamaica, and became assistant Scout Leader. I remember one year we had a big Scouts and Guide Rally at Kings House, in Kingston. Lady Baden- Powell and Princess Alice (Queen’s aunt) both attended. I was very excited to meet such famous people.
In the 1950’s a friend encouraged me to travel to England. I travelled by boat which stopped at different Caribbean Island. I found this very enjoyable as I had never been on a boat before. I made a lot of friends during the journey and when arrived in England it was winter. The first thing I caught when I arrived in Birmingham was chilblain.
In the 50’s it was hard to get somewhere to live. We were only able to get rooms to rent from black landlords. Some of landlords were very fussy and would not let us use the front door. I remember one house that I lived in the landlord made all the tenants use the back door to get into the house.
I got married in 1954 and was able to purchase my own house in Cannon Hill. My husband and I had seven children. Whilst they were growing up I worked as a pastry cook in Broad Street, and later in Great Hampton Street doing assembling work.
1982 when the children were older, my husband and I moved to New York to join my brother. It was not hard to get a job, then, and I got a job straight away as a home care worker. I found the Americans very friendly.
They would always smile and greet me even when they did not know me. I enjoyed living in America using the subway. I never experienced any problem living in
America. My husband and I had hoped the children would move to America as well, but they decided they would rather remain in England. We lived in USA for ten years before returning to Birmingham. I am still in regular contacts with friends I made living in America.
I am very proud of all my children who have studied hard and are all in good jobs. They are married and settled in different parts of the world. ie Germany, Australia, Wales, London and Birmingham. I have 8 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. I am in regular contacts with my
children and grand children.
My photograph was taken when I went to visit my son and his family in Australia. I travelled for over 20 hours, and was there for four weeks. My family took me around showing me the sights. I had a great time in Australia.
I was brought up in the Catholic faith. After I married my family and I began attending Camp Hill Seventh-Day Adventist Church.(The name Seventh-day Adventist is based on the Church's observance of the "biblical Sabbath" on Saturday, the seventh day of the week).
My Christian faith isvery important to me.
I have been a member of Camp Hill Church for over 50 years. I used to be very active in the Church, and would visit the sick at home or in hospital. I also used to enjoy going out on church outings, and picnics.
I enjoy listening to Classical and Religious Music.
I have been coming to South Aston Lunch Club for nearly a year. I did try a couple of Lunch Clubs but did not settle. I enjoy going to the Lunch Club on a Wednesday and I have made a number of friends.
Josephine
April 2013
*MANUEL ROAD SONG.
Go dung a Manuel Road, gal an bwoy,
Fe go bruk rock stone, gal an bwoy.
Go dung a Manuel Road, gal an bwoy,
Fe go bruk rock stone, gal an bwoy.
Bruk dem one by one, gal an bwoy,
Bruk dem two by two, gal an bwoy,
Finga mash, no cry, gal an bwoy,
Memba a play we a play, gal an bwoy.
Go dung a Manuel Road, gal an bwoy,
Fe go bruk rock stone, gal an bwoy.
Go dung a Manuel Road, gal an bwoy,
Fe go bruk rock stone, gal an bwoy.
Bruk dem two by two, gal an bwoy,
Bruk dem three by three, gal an bwoy,
Finga mash, no cry, gal an bwoy,
Memba a play we a play, gal an bwoy.
Listen to the song about Manuel Road
http://www.jambalayah.com/node/931
