Title:
Interview with Albertina (Tina) Aparicio, 29 January 2018
Level: Category
Sound Archive
Level: Fonds
EVEWRIGHT ARTS FOUNDATION
Level: Series
Caribbean Takeaway Takeover: Identities and Stories
Scope and Content:
Interview with Tina Aparicio about her move from Trinidad to England and her work as a midwife in Thurrock.

[00:00:] Tina’s early life; birth in Trinidad; her first job as a teacher; incident of confrontation with a student’s parent prompting her to change career; applying to matron to become a nurse; her interview.
[05:05:] Her journey on the ship to England; her feelings on leaving her family in Trinidad; staying with a friend in England; her first nursing job at Tilbury Hospital; training to become a midwife at Rochford Hospital; failing her first midwifery exam and regrets at moving to England; passing her exam on the second attempt; taking her second level exams at Walthamstow.
[08:40:] Return to Trinidad after completing her midwifery training; working as private nurse for Lady Erskine, accompanying her back to England to the Royal Free Hospital (London) for treatment; keeping her entertained on board the ship (the TSS Galfrito); receiving job offer while on board.
[11:20:] Their arrival in England; accompanying charge to the hospital; staying at hotel and visiting her charge at hospital; lack of respect from staff at the Royal Free Hospital; questioning doctors over prescriptions given to charge.
[14:20:] Receiving money from Sir Winston Churchill’s daughter; trying fish and chips; administering medicine for her charge; receiving job offer from Thurrock district; leaving her position as private nurse after a couple of months.
[19:25:] Returning to work as midwife in Thurrock; notable stories of delivering babies: occasion of allowing husband into the delivery room; patient who insisted Tina deliver the baby; delivering multiple babies in one night.
[25:35:] Aftercare and home visits for patients; criticism of midwife who delivered grandson’s baby; running classes for parents; reflections on her life accomplishments; keeping in touch with patients and past students; advice for next generation.
Dates of Creation:
29 January 2018
Extent:
30 minutes 29 seconds
Creator Name:
Ionie Richards
Admin History:
Albertina Marceline Aparicio (Tina) was born in Trinidad in 1925. She originally worked as a teacher. In 1958, she moved to England to train as a nurse at Tilbury Hospital. She then took midwifery training at Rochford Hospital and Walthamstow.

Tina returned to Trinidad after completing her midwifery training. However, she then got a job to accompany Lady Erskine to England for treatment at the Royal Free Hospital in London. From there, she gained employment as a midwife in Thurrock, where she stayed until she retired, acting as a teacher as well as midwife.

(Information from depositor as well as from interview.)
Archivist Note:
SJM 10 October 2018
Custodial History:
Recording of oral history interview was edited into approximately 30 minutes before deposit.
Copyright:
Copyright Evewright Arts Foundation; ask permission before allowing publication or allowing profit-making organisations to use.
Physical Characteristics:
Digital MP3 file created from original WAV recording
Not Available:
Use digital copy available on Soundcloud

Key terms

TypeKey termsDescription
Subjects Midwifery Interview with Albertina (Tina) Aparicio, 29 January 2018 Former midwife in Thurrock
Personal Names Albertina
Aparicio 		Interview with Albertina (Tina) Aparicio, 29 January 2018
Place Names America, West Indies, Trinidad Interview with Albertina (Tina) Aparicio, 29 January 2018 Move to England from Trinidad
Place Names Thurrock Interview with Albertina (Tina) Aparicio, 29 January 2018 Former midwife in Thurrock
Document Types Sound recording Interview with Albertina (Tina) Aparicio, 29 January 2018