Lucille Editha Ford

119cm x 119 cms 

I  was  born   on    February 29th 1920 in Carrington Jamaica. That is where I grow up and go to school. I always liked mathematics and I liked reading. When I was 17, I decided I want to travel. I want to go to England see life there, see how things are done there especially among the Jamaican community. I travel from Jamaica on my own to the UK. I reached London first, then go to to Birmingham. I never stay there long. My brother already living in Leamington and he helped me come there. I remember the train journeys, London to Birmingham, then on to Leamington. I stopped in a house with Asians and Irish in a group in one sort of area. I worked in Hartford Hill a TB hospital and Midland Counties a home for the incurables as well. I get married in England to my husband Henry Ford. He worked at the Ford factory. We have seven children together, six born in England, one born in Jamaica. I work and raise my children at the same time. I work as a childminder and later on I work in a nursing  home called Castel Froma. I think it’s still there. I enjoy the food in England. Rice and peas pork beef and fish and chips wrapped in newspaper in those days.

I go to church regular both in Jamaica and in England. I love the hymns Abide with Me is one I love. The weather was hard for me especially the cold winters but I get used to it. I stay in England even when others go back to Jamaica. A lot of people weren’t happy. A lot of people went home. Some of them didn’t like you to touch them because tey thought the colour would rub off. After they saw me regular they got used to it.

I make many friends in Leamington. Growing up, socialising, you have to be careful how you move, how you keep company so you stay out of trouble. This is me.