Diary – 17 July 2007

Vanessa Walters artist in residence for Between the Lines

Spending the afternoon at Pepperpot, Ladbroke Grove's West Indian old people's home has been a true priviledge. It was Calvin's birthday - no-one could tell me how old he was but clearly over 80. Not all the elders there live-in, some like 77 year old Trini Christopher Hosein, drop by for lunch and then stay for some banter before making their way home. For others, like Esme Pascal who comes all the way from Ealing, its a weekly visit.

I recorded my conversations with Christopher and 85 year old Imogen from Jamaica to get their first reactions to the UK and their feelings about the borough.

Both were more than keen to spill the beans on some of the 'horrors' of England. Christopher, who arrived in 1952 (just 4 years after the initial Windrush voyage) found himself isolated in London - without much community and difficulty in getting a job. Imogen was stuck in one room with 7 children, and a husband in a house with four other families and just one kitchen! But despite the hardship , neither of them gave much thought to going back...

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You can contact Vanessa on virtualmuseum@rbkc.gov.uk.

Vanessa Walters

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