Catalogue description Oral history recording undertaken with Sandy SALMON as part of the Millennibrum project.

An interview with Sandy SALMON, a divorced man with two sons, who is a Mobile service engineer& landlord, born in Jamaica and now living in Birmingham. Sandy SALMON’s father was a Carpenter, born in Jamaica and his mother a Housewife born in Jamaica. In the interview, he talks about …

'SANDY SALMON MS2255/2/081 Logged by Lorraine Blakemore & Helen Lloyd

01

I was born in Jamaica in 1951 on 23rd September….in 1960 my father decided to immigrate to England…Family separated for a time. 3 brothers and 1 sister.

1.43 In 1964 dad decided to come back to Jamaica…the original plan was…earn enough money to return and build a better house…

Father had not saved enough money so returned to England. Mother followed him a year later.

3.53 I think there was an immigration law at the time…dependent children under 16 were quite free to join parents in England…So my parents made a quick decision….

02

Details early childhood in Jamaica. Domestic living arrangements.

03

Only negative ideas about England were concerning the weather and the communal living.

1.05 Jamaica’s history and colonial background.

04

Mother wrote a letter to her brother in England asking for his feelings about living here.

3.30 Educational system in Jamaica.

05

America was more familiar than England as a place of the imagination and to have a chance to go to.

06

We were very religious….the Seventh Day Adventist Church….the Sabbath starts from Friday evening….As children we didn’t particularly like going to church…we spent more time with mum….Now that we are grown we don’t go to church…I have not forced my children to go to church either….

07

Lifestyle in Jamaica.

55” Growing up in Jamaica in the 60s was a paradise. Children could disappear all day and parents wouldn’t worry where they were because there was no concern for children’s safety. Almost any adult would look at anybody’s children with respect and care…

3.35 On arrival in England experienced severe frost.

08

09

I arrived in England on the 4th November 1967….Memories of that day of arrival.

1.43 In 1967 my parents were fairly settled because they were able to afford a 2-bedroomed flat which was terraced…my parents occupied the first floor…

4.16 My father got me into a secondary school in Nechells…I was just 16…When I got there, there were a lot of children from around the world…so I didn’t feel too out of place…

10

I stayed in school for about 6 months….I wanted to be an electronics engineer but I didn’t have enough time to achieve any qualifications…I was accepted as a trainee toolmaker….Didn’t feel happy there and left after 6 months. Transferred to another firm in Sutton Coldfield and worked for 2 years.

4.05 Whilst I was unemployed, I remember one evening looking through the Evening Mail….there was one vacancy for the Royal Navy…I immediately got very interested…

11

Discussed idea with family.

Passed exams and waited until he became a British citizen.

2.09 I joined the navy in 1973….I was about 19 or 20…

2.52 Details period of training in the navy.

4.02 Group he was training with qualified for a free trip to South Africa.

12

As an alternative, he was offered a posting to Hong Kong.

2.22 Obtained qualifications in the Navy. Attained position of leading hand after 3 and a half years.

4.34 Left the Navy and found that it was easier to obtain employment thereafter. Worked for Kalamazoo in Northfield as an air-conditioning engineer for 13 and a half years.

13

45” Left Kalamazoo for present company which he has worked at for 10 years.

1.39 Experience of living in Hong Kong. Story about a typhoon.

14

NATO exercise in Arctic. Sent to Belize in 1976. Experienced earthquake.

15

Returned to Jamaica on Navy leave.

Story about attempts to return to ship stationed in Brazil.

16

Continues story.

3.00 Contrasts treatment by colleagues in Navy with colleagues outside.

17

There were not many incidents where I could put it down to racism…If you are different then people will treat you different….

1.04 Story about racist attack in nightclub in Gillingham.

18

Treatment by colleagues in navy.

2.50 Separation from family in the early years.

19

Continued.

2.32 Affect of separation on education.

20

I see people who I went to school with and in many more cases than not, I am in a better position than they are….The only thing is…if my parents did bring us with them so we all stayed together we might have achieved a bit more with better education….

51” 2 sons aged 17 and 13. Family split up.

2.42 Children’s upbringing compared to his. Here in Birmingham, they're very restricted. Have to know where they are - because of dangers and weather.

3.38 "If I had a choice of growing up in England or growing up in the Caribbean…growing up in the Caribbean is far more interesting, far more adventurous." Education and job propsects better in England.

21

Son's education affected by family break-up. I feel so guilty, don't want to go in to detail. Birmingham inner-city schools, especially here in Erdington, very poor. Children coming from indisciplined homes carry it over in to schools. Teachers can't cope.

1.30 "It's a crime really to send children to some of these schools, but what can you do?" He spends his spare time ferrying children to their activities. (Gives details.) Also watches TV, visits friends, and he's a landlord. Member of ex-West Indian Men and Women's Service Association. We aim to go into schools to educate children about

Caribbean people's contribution to this country.

22

What we've contributed to the war effort and since we've been here. Role models.

"I love Birmingham very very much. I feel this is my home. Even when I go to Jamaica these days, I still think back of Birmingham. " Wouldn't want to go back to Jamaica permanently. Doesn't like to hear criticisms of Birmingham. "I like it because it's my home." Likes modernisation and diversity. City Council doing quite well. Proud. City welcomes me. Things moving in right direction. "I'm just proud to be a citizen of Birmingham". Brought children up to feel same. Hopes they'll get involved. Encouraging sons to join police. Should not just take, but also give - "returning something back to the city and the country."

ENDS