Defying the Odds

By Jannett V Creese

This book is an attempt to explain how, as a family unit, we came to terms with living in this society and my further experiences as a nurse, wife, and mother; how we adjusted to what was still a strange environment; and how society is changing.

I would also like to leave a record of my life in England so that my childrens children and their children will know what life was really like for a black West Indian woman living in England before the middle of the twentieth century and the early part of the twenty-first century.

Some of my comments will be general reflections and opinions and extends from what I said in my first book, My Windward Side.

After retiring, I threw myself into community work mainly to take my mind away from my back pain. I became a volunteer for many organizations, and as the saying goes, I wore several hats.

I will be writing about each hat in a separate chapter because each has played a large part in my life and afforded me many opportunities that I would never have had.

I have call this book Defying the Odds, for although my life has been filled with many barriers both as a woman and being black, I have tried to break down most of them and grab the opportunities that came my way. I feel I have done all and more than I have wanted to achieve.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Jul 26, 2017
• ISBN: 9781546280088

Jannett V Creese

Jannett continues to record her journey from St,Vincent and the Grenadines in the late fifties as a young woman travelling to England to train as a nurse. She found a cold hostile place and many barriers. Despite the odds that were stacked against her, she completed her training, got married and raised a family. She climbed the career ladder in nursing to become Sister in charge of an intensive care unit at night. Shortly after completing a degree in education she retired and threw herself into community work and was awarded the Citizens Award for volunteers by Stockport Metropolitan Borough and the MBE by the Queen. Jannett is now a widow and a great grandmother and continues to do community work.

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© 2017 Jannett V Creese. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse   09/29/2017

ISBN: 978-1-5462-8006-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5462-8007-1 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5462-8008-8 (e)

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and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Becoming A Widow

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

The Church

Chapter 7

Mother’s Death

Chapter 8

Sue Copeland

Chapter 9

My Award

Chapter 10

The Mbe

Chapter 11

Conclusion

Dedicated to the memories of Basil Creese, Daniel and Luenda Williams.

My thanks to my family, who have been supportive and long-suffering.

To Liz Turner, who was always reminding me to finish the Book.

To my niece Nyasha Pitt, who helped with her research, and to Alfred Huggins for bringing me up to date with some general information about St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

INTRODUCTION

My first book was essentially a description of my experience as a child growing up in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) in the West Indies, and moving away to England as a young woman. I arrived in what was to me a completely strange and hostile society. It was also an attempt to show how I got used to living in this country.

This book is an attempt to explain how, as a family unit, we came to terms with living in this society. I also discuss my experiences as a nurse, wife, and a mother; how we adjusted to what was still a strange environment; and how society is changing.

I would also like to leave a record of my life in England so that my children’s children will know what life was really like for a black West Indian woman living in England before the middle of the twentieth and the early part of the twenty-first century.

Some of my comments will be general reflections and opinions that extend what I said in my first book, My Windward Side.

I talk about how, after retiring, I threw myself into community work to take my mind away from my back pain. I became a volunteer for many organisations, and as the saying goes, I wore several hats. I will be writing about each hat in a separate chapter because each has played a large part in my life and afforded me many opportunities that I would never have had.

I have called this book Defying the Odds because although my life has been filled with many barriers, both as a woman and as a black person, I have tried to break down most of them and grabbed the opportunities that came my way. I feel I have done all that I have wanted to achieve and more.

Jannett V. Creese

children%20mbe%20image.jpg

With my children (Left To Right) Michelle, Garfield, Basil at Buckingham Palace. A proud day for us all.

grandchildren%20image.jpg

My Grandchildren, the loves of my life (Left To Right) Matara, Zeke, Lainey, Louetta, Tilly, Chione.

CHAPTER 1

I was born in a small West Indian island named St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) in November 1938. I was the oldest child of thirteen children of Daniel and Luenda Williams. My father had other children who were older and to whom we were close.

Being the oldest child carried a vast responsibility, which was beyond me at times. According to my parents, I had to be an example to my younger siblings. When we went out, it was my duty to make sure they were safe. I tried my best and managed it more often than not.

When I was ten years old, Daddy, who was a sanitary inspector, was transferred to a town on the leeward side of the island called Layou, and he took the family with him. The rest of the family loved the move, but I hated it. After six months, I did not settle and continued to hate everything about the place. My parents sent me back to Calliaqua, where I lived with my great aunt. I loved it, even though I missed my parents and siblings. I loved the attention that I received – just me, with no other siblings. Sometimes I used to wish I was an only child!

This went on for a year or more, until I went to high school and boarded in Kingstown, the capital of the island, at my godmother’s home. On reflection, I think that was why I was timid as a young person: there were too many siblings to share our parents with. As I got older, I became braver and less introvert. My parents thought I was bossy because they said I bossed my brothers and sisters about. I had to, to keep things in order.

I was no different from other little girls who wanted to be nurses when they grew up, but I never changed. When I was ten years old, I told my parents I wanted to be a nurse and asked them send me to England to train. I remember Daddy saying if I completed my education satisfactorily, I could go anywhere and do anything I wanted. From fourteen years old, I was following the district nurse around. She encouraged me by teaching me lots of practical things. After I passed the Senior Cambridge exam, the equivalent to GCSE now, I reminded Daddy about going to England. He thought I was too young to leave home, so I went into teaching, which was what most students did after leaving school.

In the meantime, I found a nursing magazine and started to apply for student nurse training. I chose St Leonard’s Hospital in London and filled out the application form. Only when I received an acceptance did I tell my parents that they could not renege on their promise to send me to England. They took me seriously and helped me get ready to leave. Daddy said that he knew I would not forget, and that was a good trait, to stick to my guns.

Of the thirteen children, there were eight girls and five boys. I think my father thought he would not have had any boys because there were four girls before a boy appeared. He told us all the time that he wanted all his girls to be educated and independent so that no man would take advantage of them. Mother wanted us to be educated so that we’d feel comfortable in any company we found ourselves, from the queen to the dustman. My mother took etiquette seriously; everything had to be right.

When I was ready to leave for England, I was twenty years old and felt terrified. Suddenly, all the dreams I’d had of being a nurse had disappeared, and I wanted to remain at home. Why was I going? I had a job and was comfortable, or so I thought. I had nagged my parents, and my fare was paid, I realised my parents could not afford to lose so much money, and I had given up my job. I could not change my mind. I got on the ship and sailed away to London.

The voyage took three weeks, and before I knew it, we had arrived