Carmen’s biggest surprise was the accommodation.
She said: “In Jamaica I had a big house with a veranda. I can go out there, sit and eat me mango and me cashew. Here we were in one room. I couldn’t believe it.”
Back home, friends would call up to ask if she wanted anything from town as they passed. But it was very different in London at first.
“Nobody wants to know you. And especially when you’re my colour.
“Being black, it was terrible at that time, believe me.
“If you want somewhere to live, and you go knock on the door, some of them might answer and some of them might peep through the window and some of them might say, ‘I have the room – but my friend wouldn’t like it if I rent it to you’.”
Carmen was a machinist, sewing clothes for Marks & Spencer until she retired.
After Keith died, she withdrew from life until her daughter encouraged her to go to a Positive Network Elders session.
“I made lots of friends. We talk and we listen to music and play domino, and exercise. It helps me a lot.”
