Moving to the 'mother country'
Iva Williams moved from Jamaica to Bristol in 1962 to join her fiancé, Owen. 'When I first arrived in Bristol everything was new and surprising. I just thought 'wow' - the life and culture was definitely different.'
It was difficult to settle at first. The cold was deeper than expected. They lived in an unheated attic flat and they bought a paraffin heater to keep warm. Jamaican food such as yams and rice were difficult to find so she improvised and cooked with potatoes. Language was also a barrier. In Jamaica Iva had spoken patois and some Bristolians did not understand her accent.
'Although my fiancé wrote to me, he never, ever mentioned anything about life in the city. I think he was worried he might put me off from coming!'
One of the hardest things to adjust to was life without her family and friends.
'There were many people around us in exactly the same position so we did the best we could to create our own fun. The men would go out and buy a radiogram and we would invite people to come to the house to eat, drink, and play records. They were happy times.'
After a series of dead-end jobs Iva became a nurse at Frenchay Hospital where the people were friendly. Now she can't imagine living anywhere else.
"I grew up so much in Bristol, that I now consider it my home. My husband died 15 years ago so I associate the city with him and the happy times.
It was difficult to settle at first. The cold was deeper than expected. They lived in an unheated attic flat and they bought a paraffin heater to keep warm. Jamaican food such as yams and rice were difficult to find so she improvised and cooked with potatoes. Language was also a barrier. In Jamaica Iva had spoken patois and some Bristolians did not understand her accent.
'Although my fiancé wrote to me, he never, ever mentioned anything about life in the city. I think he was worried he might put me off from coming!'
One of the hardest things to adjust to was life without her family and friends.
'There were many people around us in exactly the same position so we did the best we could to create our own fun. The men would go out and buy a radiogram and we would invite people to come to the house to eat, drink, and play records. They were happy times.'
After a series of dead-end jobs Iva became a nurse at Frenchay Hospital where the people were friendly. Now she can't imagine living anywhere else.
"I grew up so much in Bristol, that I now consider it my home. My husband died 15 years ago so I associate the city with him and the happy times.