Title:
Interview with (Cleophias) Hamilton Williams, 13 February 2018
Level: Category
Sound Archive
Level: Fonds
EVEWRIGHT ARTS FOUNDATION
Level: Series
Caribbean Takeaway Takeover: Identities and Stories
Scope and Content:
Interview with Hamilton Williams about his life in St Vincent and in England. There is background noise throughout the interview, and the interviewee is often difficult to hear.

[00:00:] Working in St Vincent as a teacher, then in the police force; emigration to England; difference between expectations and reality; poor treatment of West Indians by English people; boat journey to England, possibly on the SS Ascania.
[04:10:] Getting together with others from St Vincent after he moved to England, especially to celebrate holidays; his marriage; renting room in Hackney from Jamaican landlord.
[06:40:] Working with the General Post Office (GPO) as security staff; working at the King Edward building, the chief sorting office and headquarters in Central London; low pay.
[09:20:] Experiencing racism at work, especially once he became a supervisor; challenges of managing staff and allocating shifts; being accused of showing favouritism to Black employees.
[15:40:] Whistle issued to him by the GPO; his duties as security staff and risks involved; his uniform.
[18:15:] Story of most hurtful racial attack on him, being spat on by passer-by while children were with him.
[20:15:] Being mistreated by landlords; friction with other tenants; getting his own council flat; finally buying own house.
[23:30:] Return to St Vincent in the 1980s; own home built in St Vincent; his work as a pastor in St Vincent; his wife’s death in 2016; reflections on his life, his accomplishments and contributions.
[26:20:] Lack of respect shown by British people; problems with youths; desire to return to St Vincent; his message to next generation.
Dates of Creation:
13 February 2018
Extent:
29 minutes 52 seconds
Creator Name:
Ionie Richards and Everton Wright
Admin History:
Cleophias Hamilton Williams was born in St Vincent in c. 1938. He worked as a schoolteacher and in the police force before moving to England in 1961. He settled in London and worked as security staff for the General Post Office. He married and had four children.

Hamilton and his wife returned to St Vincent in the 1980s, where they built their own home. Hamilton worked as a pastor at a church there. Hamilton returned to England in 2016 when his wife died.

(Information from depositor as well as from interview.)
Archivist Note:
SJM 17 October 2018
Custodial History:
Recorded at Hibiscus Caribbean Elderly Association, Stratford, London. 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 Racism Interview with Hamilton Williams, 13 February 2018 Incidents of racial prejudice in London
Personal Names Cleophias Hamilton
Williams 		Interview with Hamilton Williams, 13 February 2018
Place Names America, West Indies, St Vincent and the Grenadines Interview with Hamilton Williams, 13 February 2018 Former resident of St Vincent
Document Types Sound recording Interview with Hamilton Williams, 13 February 2018
Institutions General Post Office Interview with Hamilton Williams, 13 February 2018 Former security staff with the General Post Office