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Oral history recording with Hesketh James Boston, born in Dominica. Recorded as part of Race Council Cymru’s Windrush Cymru Heritage Project.

“The word was, plenty work in Wales, because of the mines an’ all that, you know.”

Born in Dominica, Hesketh Boston came to Britain seeking work. Early job prospects included working as a machine moulder and an industrial painter.

“It was good life, on the island of Dominica, it was good…”

“But the first thing they say to you: “you must show respect to your elders” …you haven’t got to wait for them to ask you, if you see it’s wrong there, you got to straighten it yourself.”

“On the islands, you don’t get much work… No work nor nothing but everybody seems to get on, cos the people have the land, they grew their own food and sell whatever and that’s how it was on the island.”

In 1960, at the age of 19, he made the journey from Dominica to Britain alone by boat. He came to Preston and later Wales after hearing of work being available.

“You couldn’t tell what kind of work you could hope for, at the time until you get there… when we came over here… in the 60s there was plenty of work, you could start a job today, if you didn’t like it, two hours later you get a job next door… the money same day was small but it grew with the economy.”

“Yes, we came here as British citizens…I came here feeling British and after a while I was made to feel not British, we come to what they call it the Motherland…”

“I think it’s very important that the younger generation hear about these stories, for them to know what happened during that time…”