Title:
Interview with Lenore Sykes, 6 November 2017
Level: Category
Sound Archive
Level: Fonds
EVEWRIGHT ARTS FOUNDATION
Level: Series
Caribbean Takeaway Takeover: Identities and Stories
Scope and Content:
Interview with Lenore Sykes about her life as a midwife in Trinidad, England, and Nigeria.

[00:00:] Her early life in Trinidad; visit there in 2014; her family; her journey on SS Montserrat to England in 1966; story of stop in Spain and having meal paid for her and her friends by another diner; arrival at Southampton; travel to Fulham by train.
[04:30:] Her first job at Marston Green Maternity Hospital, Birmingham; passing English language requirement; qualifications from Trinidad in nursing and midwifery; her expectations of England; taking her midwifery qualifications in England; her promotion to Sister.
[08:35:] Story of meeting her future husband, a doctor at the hospital, Roger [Morton] Sykes; their marriage in 1969; meeting her husband’s family; gradually being accepted by the family.
[13:25:] Raising her three bi-racial children; one supportive neighbour; other neighbours who were antagonistic; friendly post office staff.
[17:35:] Her husband’s impressions of her family and Trinidad when they visited; living in Nigeria for almost 20 years; return to England when her husband became ill with hepatitis; story of using cabbage leaf to relieve arthritis.
[23:05:] Arranging for her son to finish his pharmaceutical training in Trinidad; his valedictorian speech at his graduation; his move to Colchester; joining her son in Colchester in 2006.
[27:00:] Settling in Colchester; becoming involved with the local community; visiting libraries to tell stories about Trinidad to children during Black History Month; folk songs from Trinidad, singing excerpt from Calypsonian Lord Kitchener song.
Dates of Creation:
6 November 2017
Extent:
30 minutes 18 seconds
Creator Name:
Everton Wright and Cherina Darrell-Sutherland
Admin History:
Lenore Sykes was born in Port of Spain, Trinidad in c. 1934. She gained her nursing qualifications there, before moving to England in 1966 to continue her professional development, training as a midwife and beinig promoted to Sister.

Her first job was at the Marston Green Maternity Hospital in Birmingham, where she met her future husband, Dr Roger Morton Sykes. They married in 1969 and had three children together.

Lenore and Roger spent almost 20 years in Nigeria. Lenore finally settled in Colchester in 2006.

(Information from depositor as well as from interview.)
Archivist Note:
SJM 12 October 2018
Custodial History:
Recorded at Quater Meeting Place, Colchester. 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 Lenore Sykes, 6 November 2017 Former midwife
Subjects Nursing Interview with Lenore Sykes, 6 November 2017 Former nurse
Personal Names Mrs
Lenore
Sykes 		Interview with Lenore Sykes, 6 November 2017
Place Names America, West Indies, Trinidad Interview with Lenore Sykes, 6 November 2017 Former resident of Trinidad
Document Types Sound recording Interview with Lenore Sykes, 6 November 2017