Reference
X214/12/25
Title
Transcript of interview with Barry [Barrett Vincent] Lyons, born 28 Apr 1929 in Jamaica.
Date free text
23 February 2008
Production date
From: 1929 To: 2008
Scope and Content
Was the seventh child of ten, and well looked after by older siblings.
Attended Baptist school. The boys leave school at age 14, the girls at age 15. The class teacher taught all subjects. Discipline was enforced by the strap for the lower and middle divisions, and the cane for the older children.
Childhood games.
Went to the United States for over 3 years and worked on farms and the green Giant canning factory.
Returned to Jamaica and lived in Kingston. Worked as a publican and a builder.
Left Jamaica 17 November 1960. Came on a boat, which stopped in Vigo for about 8 days on the journey. Docked at Southampton and took train to Waterloo.
Worked in London for over 3 years.
Girlfriend came over from Jamaica in June 1961 and they married. Daughter was born in March 1962. When she was about 1 year old, discovered that she was deaf, and therefore mute. Discovered there was an Association for the Deaf in Luton, so decided to move. Reference to Pauline Rose, the president 'for the deaf children'.
First job in Luton was at Cam Gears, then got a job at Vauxhall. Earned about £17per week in 1965.
After 20 years took redundancy from Vauxhall in 1986.
Socialised with the West India Community Association.
Religious beliefs.
Level of description
item