Joining the family in England ...

[Porty-48]

After reading neutral's story it brought to mind what my family's experience was once we got there ...

My dad had travelled by ship (boat we used to say then) he arrived in '55 leaving my mom and seven children in Portland -- he had been a carpenter there but that type of job was hard to find so he went to work at Nestle's in the factory. My dad's first Christmas was his hardest and most painful as he had a room in a house with another family and the wife used to cook his evening meals. That day she did not invite him to join them but brought his dinner on a tray - he vowed then that by God's grace that was going to be the only Christmas there without his wife.

He put in very long hours and the following year (from a partner he had joined) he was able to send for my mom and my baby sister - they also travelled by ship - note this was a full fare of 85 pounds (sterling) with my sister travelling free. This was in '56.

Once there my mom did some babysitting to help out and in '57 they sent for my 2nd eldest brother & my older sister - a full fare and half fare but this time by plane - they were school age.

In '58 they sent for another brother (again full fare) and my youngest brother was born there. You can imagine how hard things must have been for them but my dad had joined the local Methodist church and the members really welcomed my family in a very tangible way.

More to come ---

[yardie fi life]

Re: Joining the family in England ...

VEry interesting..keep it coming Porty [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[BritsHonee]

Re: Joining the family in England ...

My parents had a similar story. My mum was just telling me about when they first went to England. It was after WWII and she was telling me of the poverty and the bombed out homes. What a life they have led. Keep it coming Porty!

[Porty-48]

Re: Joining the family in England ...

Thanks "yaadie" and BritsHonee [img]/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] - you know BH it was only 9 years after WWII dat my dad went to England so much of the devastation was still around and the country needed the immigrants to rebuild - dats how come so many went there from the Islands.

[Porty-48]

Re: Joining the family in England ...

When Mom had joined Dad in ’56 they rented a couple of rooms downstairs a house – they shared the bathroom and kitchen with another family (this was very common then). In 1958 they were now a family of 7 (including Mom & Dad) and when they applied to bring up another son in ’59 they were refused by the govt as they needed more space.

What to do? Again the church stepped in – in fact a very stalwart member who knew my parents dilemma found a house that was on the market and wanted my dad to see it – with what money? my dad wondered – anyway he went with her.

For those who lived in Britain in the early days many houses had “sitting tenants” – they were people who paid a set rent for years and they could continue living at the house even if the ownership changed.

The house was a big one so my dad thought that there would definitely be enough space for the rest of us who would be joining them and even though the rent would not be much – at least they would have something coming in.

Remember now that this was in ’58 and immigrants buying houses was not a very popular thing – in fact in certain areas if neighbours knew that the house might be bought by an immigrant they would get someone else to buy it first.

The lady who told my dad about the house was also aware of what could happen so – remembering that my dad was a carpenter by trade – took him along with her as if she was buying it and that he would be doing the repairs for her.

Of course my dad was still wondering where the extra money would be coming from – thanks to the church people and the partner (he was able to throw an extra half hand) he came up with the down payment – in today’s currency it seems very little but I can tell you it was a lot then as he used to earn about 12 pounds a week and remember he was feeding a family of 7 even though my mom was helping out with a little from babysitting.

The funny thing about my dad getting the house was that the tenants did not know that my dad was the real owner and felt quite satisfied living there even though the house had new owners. After the deal was done and my dad went and opened the front door and started bringing the furniture they got quite mad and in a few weeks moved out – great for my dad as now he had a couple more rooms to rent and get a little more pounds for them.

Finally now Mom & Dad could bring up the last three and in ’59 another full fare and in ’60 myself and an older brother joined them (me the half fare).

Still more ---

[Porty-48]

Re: Joining the family in England ...

While typing this I must confess that tears are coming to my eyes when I think how my parents sacrificed for us – Dad only had one winter coat in those early years – his journey to work was two bus fares and he used to walk one in the morning and take the bus the other – then on the way home he used to do the same just to save and send for his family. Our meals were nutritious but simple and one chicken would serve for everyone and then soup was made with the bones for the next day.

So in ’60 we were all together as a family of 10 – each brother and sister had their own friends so our house was always packed with their friends. Many people from our district lived in our area so it was really a home away from home atmosphere. Whenever we get together it’s always a fun time going back into history of our time in England.

One thing I found that because everyone was in the same boat we were very close-knit and looked out for each other. Several times my mom provided dinner for single men who came over before their wives and children and they always spent Christmas Day with us – my dad didn’t want what happened to him to happen to anyone else. There were many times when Dad could hardly find a place to walk when he came home because of the amount of people in the hallway and on the stairs.

I just want to add here that the lady who helped my dad purchase the house remained a close family friend to us and when I got married in ’68 her family did the catering and her niece decorated my wedding cake. This lady, I’ll call her Mrs. A. sent the first card to Jamaica when my mom died in Dec. ’93 and it was very sad for us to know that she passed away just two weeks later in Jan. ’94.

Turning the clock back to ’56 - when my dad left us at our home in Portland we were living in a house he had built on ¼ acre of land facing the Caribbean – people over the years wanted to buy it from him but his intention was always to return home and rebuild on the same spot. We were happy when in ’74 his dream came true and he returned and started building – there now stands a family home which is a credit to his hard work in England.

Where are my brothers and sisters now? Two brothers and a sister are still in England with their families – one sister is in the Middle East with her husband and daughter (a son is in England at school) two brothers and their families are in the U.S., I am in Canada with my hubby and girls and a brother died in Jamaica in ’90 two months after my Dad died.

We have had some rough times but overall our lives have been filled with much happiness and we are very close even though long distances separate many of us. Thanks to the Yahoo Famsite we are able to keep in touch daily and a family reunion is being planned in NY for next August and all of my brothers & sisters plan to be there along with their children and grand-children.

God has truly blessed us and we give much thanks to our Mom & Dad for stepping out in faith and paving the way for us.

--- Thanks for giving me the opportunity to share my family with you all ---

Porty-48 [img]/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[neutral]

Re: Joining the family in England ...

hi porty,I can empathise with you,after reading my story,I too couldnt help shedding a few tears(dont tell anyone)it all came back to me so vividly....nice story... [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[Queen]

Re: Joining the family in England ...

Wow, very nice story Porty. Your dad was a very hard, focused and dedicated man. What about your family home in Portland? Does anyone live there now?

[Queen]

Re: Joining the family in England ...

By the way, I wish I had an immigration story to tell but I don't.

The way I got here: Dad took all four of us younger children to the embassy in the hopes of getting a visa. The lady took one look at my dad and at us, called us by our names, took our passports and stamped them. Mom died a few months later so she never made the trip with us.

WE came to America and had a very very tough 5 years, then things got better as we graduated from high school then college and pursued our own careers. End of story... [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[Porty-48]

Re: Joining the family in England ...

Thanks neutral & Queen - family was #1 for my dad - his memory of his father was that he was a district constable who even his children feared - my dad wanted us to run to him when he was around not go the other way [img]/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

Re the house in Portland - we have a lady living in a room there and she keeps the home spotless - before Dad died hurricane Gilbert did major damage so we had it repaired since then have kept up the minor repairs (sea salt produces much rust) - in no way we can allow it to go to pieces - I and my younger sister are the only ones born there and she is married to someone from another island so retirement for them won't be Jamaica - my hope is to return there one day and sit on the verandah in the chair Dad used to sit and just eat/drink in the sea breeze, etc. - my hubby is all for it too so hope we get to live out that dream [img]/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

[churchgirl]

Re: Joining the family in England ...

Thanks Porty. Very touching. Your dad truly is a dedicated and hardworking person.

[Nanook]

Re: Joining the family in England ...

I love these stories, they're most interesting! Thank you for sharing your memories.

[Porty-48]

Re: Joining the family in England ...

Thanks churchgirl & IM - even though I have spent almost three times as many years in Canada than I did in England I have very fond memories of the many families who became a part of our family - many parents of my Mom & Dad's age group are now deceased and when we the children get together we have so much to share that it becomes a celebration time rather than doom and gloom.

I have not been back to Ja since Jan '94 but my two brothers in the US have several times - in fact when the younger one went a few months ago he took his laptop and two nephews I have there joined us on the famsite - we have also just had a cousin who is a teacher join us as well and now we can have up-to-the minute news of the happening in the district.

I am thinking of my Mom now and know she would have been thrilled about this new technology "rite a yaad" [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[Wahalla]

Re: Joining the family in England ...

For me this was intresting...

I would recommed a book that covers this immigration experience to the UK rather well

Windrush (The irresistible rise of multi racial Britian) by Mike and Trevor Phillips

[Porty-48]

Re: Joining the family in England ...

Walhalla - gonna check the book out - the hardships that many experienced would bring tears to the eyes - when one shared a house then you had to put money in the meter for cooking and bathing - you couldn't leave the kitchen or bathroom or someone else would use up your money - also many of the early homes didn't have inside toilets so in winter one had to put on winter coat just to visit "johnny" - I also remember the only times we used to have jello was in the winter months when we could put it on the window sill to freeze [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] - and I still think those were my best years because we were together as a family and extended family [img]/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]