Sharon_building

Sharon

I was born in the UK and then went to Jamaica as a child because my mum needed to move back ‘home’.

So, my parents sold up and we all went to live in Jamaica.

Moving to Jamaica made me grow up. I tried to blend in, but I felt like I was an outsider, I had (in the opinion of others) a funny British voice, but it was the making of me.

I learned that some children in Jamaica did not have shoes. It also taught me about the hardships of rural living but also the joy of the blue sky, sunshine and fruit. It helped me to build resilience and taught me about life.

The person that really helped me was Louise Bennet the poet and storyteller. We all used to gather round the TV when she had a concert. She would sing and then other people would sing, and the best would win a prize. She also told sayings like; ‘One hand watches the other’.

Return Journey

I came back to the UK from Jamaica in the 1970’s. My family travelled on a banana boat**. There was only room for 2 or 3 families to go to Southampton in England.

It was great because we had lunch with the captain and parties every night! The captain cherished his staff and his passengers, he was from Norway. Because there were only a handful of us we were special and treated very well.

I enjoyed the journey, and I was happy to be coming back to England. We had a wonderful time, we felt special, much better than going to Jamaica with over 200 passengers.

** A Banana boat is a nickname given to fast ships that carried bananas to trade. The ships had to be fast to transport bananas because they can spoil very quickly. Sometimes banana boats carried passengers.

Arrival

The Caribbean people who came over here in the 1950’s were no strangers to hard work.

They were used to hardship, would wash their clothes in the stream, carry water on their heads in large containers, and dig in the hard fields.

So, if someone was racist towards them, they could cope with it.

Contribution to Newham

I worked at Newham General for six years on the wards, clearing up, changing the water and supporting patients.

I also help a church in worship.

Also, I help family members and other residents in a care home in Manor Park.

Poem: Newham is Home

Home is a place of peace, a place of nurturing, you don’t feel embarrassed, you can be encouraged.

It’s a place where you can learn and grow; you can connect and relax and chill!

A sanctuary, being safe.

Where you feel happiness and that can be anywhere.

This project has been commissioned by Culture Within Newham and funded by Arts Council England.