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Oral history recording with May Neville Howard, born in Kingston, Jamaica, in February 1928. Recorded as part of Race Council Cymru’s Windrush Cymru Heritage Project.

“To me, education is awareness of purpose.”

Neville Howard was born in Kingston, Jamaica in February 1928.

“My elder brother, he was in the RAF during the war. I can remember as a child they were recruiting men for the army… We were told the Germans were throwing babies up in the air and catching them on bayonets. The young didn’t understand propaganda. Education is awareness, we are lacking…”

“My mother was everything at the time. Mama was everything.”

“I came over to build Britain back up after the war and everything. It was a shamble in 1946… I was eighteen spot-on as the ship pulled in. I left from Southampton with two suits…”

“Then I begin to work and it was an honour to work on the Queen Mary and the Queen Elizabeth [ships].”

“I’m very versatile. I went to a job working down with Americans building the steelwork in Cardiff. I went there as a painter… When the welders went for lunch I went and… I begin to weld. The manager…he says your welding is good… you’re hired… and I get a job as a welder.”

“I was a member of the Theosophical Society in Newport Road.”

“I haven’t left here since 1946… Am I a Welsh man? [laughs] No. I’m [still] called a foreigner. After 73 years!” “I reared eight children. Do better. Man can only educate man by example. If you know better, set an example…” “It is too painful to carry anger…”

“Why would we be given, above all living things on the planet…the gift of reason? The capability of, if you don’t like it, change it.”

“OK, I love you all.”