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Oral history recording with Len Lawrence who came to Britain as a trained carpenter from Jamaica in 1960. Recorded as part of Race Council Cymru’s Windrush Cymru Heritage Project.

“You’ll bear hard work and that things will change for your children.”

Len Lawrence came to Britain as a trained carpenter from Jamaica in 1960 with his wife following him in 1961. He has since built and overseen the construction of several key structures in South Wales and was the first Black foreman for The British Steel Corporation.

“I used to see other people working as a carpenter, back when I was a boy… and I say I will be a carpenter… So I managed to learn trade… I went to America and I came back, and when I came back I decide to go to England.”

“Well, the ship… I remember on the ship, as a Jamaican, we used to get feeding last, and this gentleman, sit on the ship and says ‘No, either we get first, or nobody get feeding at all’. And he locked the door and he wouldn’t open it, until they decide to feed us first…and then he decide to change it. Two blokes from Kingston decided to change it.”

“First job as a carpenter, I went to Newport and I sign on over the dock. We were building the water treatment plant… My first impression was to get a job… I worked there for four weeks, the wages was £4.19, the third week I sat down and I cry, is that what I come to work in England for?”

“Standing now in Swansea… I done the bridge enter into Swansea…. and we change it from iron bridge to one over the Tawe, 1961…”

1962 – 1982 • The Mond, refurbished • Nickel Works Bridge, refurbished • “The first lock gate in Swansea Dock, that’s when Swansea was going to be flooded, and I had to use my effort to stop it flooding…” • Port Talbot motorway • Pontyberem Bridge • Aberkenfig bypass • Aberthaw Power Station