Title:
Interview with Alford Dalrymple Gardner, 10 February 2018
Level: Category
Sound Archive
Level: Fonds
EVEWRIGHT ARTS FOUNDATION
Level: Series
Caribbean Takeaway Takeover: Identities and Stories
Scope and Content:
Interview with Alford Gardner about his journey to England on the Empire Windrush, and the struggle of settling in Leeds in the 1940s.

[00:00:] His early life, different places lived in Jamaica, moving due to his father’s work as a policeman; joining the RAF [Royal Air Force] in England at the age of 18, describes recruitment process in Jamaica; story of going to Victory Parade in London at the end of the Second World War with his brother.
[03:50:] Decision to return to England on the Empire Windrush, to find work; meeting friends from the RAF among other passengers; stories of stowaways on the boat.
[08:10:] Arrival in East Tilbury; Calypsonians on board making up songs about the boat; hearing rumours before landing about boat potentially being turned away due to hostility towards the passengers.
[10:20:] Return to Leeds, where he had spent time after being demobilised from the RAF; difficulty in finding accommodation because of negative attitudes towards West Indians; renting one room with four friends; difficulty in finding work because of racial prejudice.
[14:40:] Finally getting opportunity as a mechanic for himself and a friend; helping another friend to get a job as a welder; his wages; paying National Insurance.
[19:25:] Account of a solicitor’s firm buying houses to provide accommodation for West Indians; buying house with five friends from this solicitor; his marriage; purchasing own house for his family; social life at the time, house parties with other West Indians.
[25:30:] Reflections on his life; returning to Jamaica on holiday; no regrets.
Dates of Creation:
10 February 2018
Extent:
27 minutes 37 seconds
Creator Name:
Ionie Richards and Everton Wright
Admin History:
Alford Dalrymple Gardner was born in Kingston, Jamaica in 1926. He entered the Royal Air Force at the age of 18. He returned to Jamaica once the Second World War ended.

Shortly after, he heard about the Empire Windrush boat that was taking people from the West Indies to Britain to work. He decided to return to England on the boat, landing in East Tilbury in 1948. He then travelled back to Leeds, where he had spent time on his previous trip to England.

Alford found work as a mechanic in Leeds. He settled there, marrying and having children.

(Information from depositor as well as from interview.)
Archivist Note:
SJM 22 October 2018
Custodial History:
Recorded at interviewee's house in Leeds. 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 Alford Gardner, 10 February 2018 Incidents of racial prejudice in Leeds in 1940s-1950s
Subjects SS Empire Windrush Interview with Alford Gardner, 10 February 2018 Passenger on board the Empire Windrush in 1948 journey to Tilbury
Personal Names Alford Dalrymple
Gardner 		Interview with Alford Gardner, 10 February 2018
Place Names America, West Indies, Jamaica Interview with Alford Gardner, 10 February 2018 Former resident of Jamaica
Place Names Yorkshire, Leeds Interview with Alford Gardner, 10 February 2018 Resident of Leeds
Document Types Sound recording Interview with Alford Gardner, 10 February 2018