Lower Dock Street

After arriving from the Caribbean in the 1950s, Roy describes how he made a life for himself in Newport.

It was during the holiday season, what you call the Miners' Fortnight. It wasn't long thereafter, I think it was within a week, that they had this article came out in the South Wales Echo that said 'Apprentice Wanted'. I made the application, I got the interview, and I got the job. I found myself among twenty-four young men just like me and each one was willing me on to see how brave I was and what I would say. Because, let's be honest about it, you are the only white face to walk into a room of black people, everyone is going to listen and watch to hear how you are going to present yourself and whether you are going to integrate in their culture. Whether you call it luck or whether you call it bravery I went in like peas in a pod, and from there on I was introduced to going out. The television is just coming into play and you have a station called TWW. Chubby Checker and the Twist was on the scene, with these young fellas, we all have to start going to school again, so we create a band of young tearaways. Not rude, but vibrant young men, and yes, girls were not a problem. Well, I'm not going too far into that subject, but any depression for missing out on my homelife wasn't as great. But one thing I can tell ya, I did miss my mother. Yes my Mum represent everything about home to me.

Before I left Jamaica of course I had a girlfriend and my intentions were at some point I would send for her and we'd marry and so on. And it was within two years after I came over that I lived that ambition. When she came, the heavens opened and the stars shone brightly, and my future was wonderful.