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Oral history recording with Loretta Smith, born in the parish of Trelawny, Jamaica, in 1937. Recorded as part of Race Council Cymru’s Windrush Cymru Heritage Project.

“I learn to trust in God, that is true for me.”

Loretta Smith was born in the parish of Trelawny, Jamaica, in 1937.

“I remember school days… [If you’re late] ‘hands out’, you got to get to school, you get up early…”

“I was working in Kingston… in a chemist… he [Loretta’s husband] was living around the same way… that’s the way we meet one another and begin to chat up and the rest of it (laughs).”

“So, he came over [to Wales] and send for me… he was living at Raglan Street [Newport]… so when we now come from Jamaica… we have somewhere to come because somebody, Jamaican, have a house. I put my money together and come over, over to England.”

“My first job…pop factory, Alma Street… My next job at Helium Peart…I was in the topping shop, where they make the screws…”

“From a child I always want to be a nurse, that was my thing, when I grow up I want to be a nurse… it was after the children… when they were old enough that I could go… to the nursing, [I] was working in Cardiff [Royal Infirmary]… Altogether I had five children, from 1962 to 1972.”

“I wouldn’t live my life any differently… I tell you something, God bless that little thing that we started… I said we going to open a little soup kitchen.”

“It was our idea the four of us. [Soup]… corny, and fried dumpling and things… do the rice and the chicken… everybody have their own [things to do]… everybody loves it”

“I think you should strive to follow your dreams… I would encourage anybody to follow your dream.”