Two Women

By Michelle Scott

This is the story of the lives of two women. They suffered loss, prejudice and adversity.  Determination and humour got them through. They were born worlds apart. One in Barbados and one in England. They met and formed a friendship that was both special and unusual at that time. The story is told over 38 years, capturing world events along the way. Although there are sad times, this is a heartwarming and inspiring story. These two amazing women are my mums.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Nov 30, 2022
• ISBN: 9781398424906

Michelle Scott

Maybe it’s because of my Halloween birthday, but I’ve always been attracted to scary stories. On the other hand, I love romances as well. Once I discovered that these two genres existed side-by-side in urban fantasy novels, I was in heaven! Urban fantasy is like chocolate and peanut butter: a perfect, to-die-for combination that I can never get enough of.

Book preview

About the Author

Michelle Scott is a first-time author. She is married and lives in Kent. She has one son, a stepdaughter and a stepson. She also has 3 grandchildren. She is a former civil servant and is currently a charity worker. She enjoys dancing and yoga.

Dedication

This book has been a labour of love. Writing it has been emotional, but I’m glad that I finally did it. And so I would like to say a big thank you to my husband, Steve. Without him I would not have written this. He made me think about how incredible these two women were and how unusual it was for them to become friends and do what they did back in the 60’s. I hadn’t really thought about it. It was just my life. But I have this life because of them. Thank you

I had memories and bits of stories from Helen and Phyllis, which I put together with a little bit of artistic licence!

For giving me lots of information and for sharing their memories. Thank you to:

My Auntie, Maureen Hinds nee Arthur - for helping me with information on Barbados and the Bajan family content. I learned so much.

My Cousin, Barbara Head, who with her brothers stayed with Helen while her mum was in hospital. She said she ‘will never forget what Auntie Hel did for us’.

Peter Dadson, Helen’s ‘adopted’ brother. Giving me more of an insight into Helen’s early life. Helen living with his family. Who became her family. His Dad fighting in Burma and Helen going AWOL from the Wrens!

Helen and Ellis Connell. My niece and great niece for the family tree. Amazing and dedicated work. And so helpful to see the family background.

Mandy Buss. My niece (and she said to say favourite niece)! for possessing a memory that I could only hope for!

Aubrey Cobham, my stepdad. For sharing with me the stories from his past. For giving me a true taste of the Caribbean and England back in the day.

Phyllis Cobham and Helen Connell. The stories of their lives, their courage, humour, strength and their love. I thank you both from the bottom of my heart.

Copyright Information ©

Michelle Scott 2022

The right of Michelle Scott to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by the author in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

All of the events in this memoir are true to the best of author’s memory. The views expressed in this memoir are solely those of the author.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

ISBN 9781398424890 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781398424906 (ePub e-book)

www.austinmacauley.com

First Published 2022

Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd®

1 Canada Square

Canary Wharf

London

E14 5AA

Book One – Phyllis

Prologue

This is the story of two women: Helen and Phyllis. Two strong women who overcame adversity in life. I’m sure there are many women like them out there. But these are the ones that I know. They dealt with poverty, racism, loss and sadness. They are the proof that we are all members of one race – the human race. Their strength, humour and determination saw them through. They also had two forward-thinking men at their side. They are inspiring and motivational. They are role models. I just wanted to tell their story.

Chapter 1

Barbados 1946–1956

It took an hour to walk from Spooner’s Hill to the bus station. Still it’s worth it to see Dad, if I see Dad, thought 11-year-old Phyllis. Gran had given her the money for the bus fare home and something to eat. Phyllis would regularly walk to the bus station to see her dad, Owen, who was a bus conductor. He and her mum, Gladys, were no longer together and Phyllis lived with her gran, Clithie, and her younger sister Barbara. Phyllis had a younger brother, Husan, who lived with his dad. Gladys had since married Roy, who was a master carpenter. He was working in America. Gladys had a son, Tony, with Roy. Gladys and Tony lived next door to Clithie in a Chattel house. (A small movable wooden structure, common in the Caribbean). Phyllis would wait for ages to see her dad. Sometimes, she saw him and sometimes she didn’t. Sometimes, Owen stayed in the main bus station, where Phyllis wasn’t allowed to go. He did this to avoid her. She didn’t know why. Maybe it was because he didn’t want to see her or have any money to give her. The money wasn’t important to Phyllis, even though she and her Gran didn’t have much money. Seeing her dad was. The people who worked outside the bus station, selling food and drinks, got to know Phyllis. They knew that she came regularly to see her dad and that he didn’t always show up. They thought that he was cruel.

Phyllis, can you keep an eye on me stall while I go for a break? said Diana, the lady selling food.

Of course, I can, replied Phyllis.

Phyllis often did this for Diana. And at the end of the day, Diana would make up a bag of food for her journey home. Thomas, the man selling drinks, would often give Phyllis a drink during the day and sometimes one to take on her journey home. Thank goodness for Diana and Thomas, thought Phyllis as she got on the bus. The journey was long, but not as long as the walk. Phyllis ate some cake and had a drink. She saved some cake for Barbara and her Gran. Lovely coconut cake, her Gran’s favourite. Well, I didn’t see Dad today, maybe next time, thought Phyllis, full of disappointment.

Phyllis got home to Spooner’s Hill and gave her Gran the coconut cake. Gran could see from the look on Phyllis’s face that she hadn’t seen Owen again.

Don’t worry, Phyllis, maybe you’ll see him next time, said her Gran.

Yeah, maybe, said Phyllis.

Phyllis spent a lot of time walking during her childhood. It wasn’t unusual in Barbados, especially if you lived in the countryside as Phyllis did. She walked to see her dad, who sometimes turned up. She walked to school and back. Sometimes, if she was lucky, she and her friend Tiny, and cousins Mahatma (known as Happy) and Gabriel (known as Gabe) would meet up with some kids that had bikes. They taught her to ride. Even though she didn’t have a bike of her own, she could ride one. They would take it in turns to ride to and from school. That made the journey more fun. Phyllis worked hard at school. She won a scholarship and was able to attend a good secondary school. Even at 11-years-old, she was sensible and pragmatic.

Phyllis was happy to be going to a good school. She was bright and hardworking but never expected to get a scholarship. Clithie was proud of her. She bragged to her friends and neighbours. At the market, at church or just walking down the street. Whoever she met, she told them.

See, Peter, she told her friend at church one Sunday. My granddaughter, Phyllis, has got into a good secondary school. Won a scholarship she did. She’s a clever girl, you know. At every opportunity, Clithie would let people know.

Gran, stop it, please, I’m getting embarrassed, Phyllis would say.

No need to be embarrassed, girl, you should be proud.

I am proud, Gran, but you keep telling people wherever you go.

Of course, I do, I’m proud of you. There was no stopping Clithie, so Phyllis didn’t even try. Anyway, she was happy that she made her Gran proud.

The next Saturday, she made the long walk from Spooner’s Hill to the Bus Station to see Owen. As usual, she waited for a long time. But this Saturday, she saw him.

Dad, I’ve won a Scholarship to secondary school!

Well done, Phyllis, I always knew you were a clever girl. I suppose you’ll be wanting money for uniform? But I’ve gotta tell ya I haven’t got any spare money. Of course, I’d like to help out, but it’s just not possible.

That’s okay, Dad, I understand. But I just wanted to tell you my good news. Phyllis tried to keep the disappointment out of her voice. She didn’t expect any money for her uniform. She had been let down too many times by him. But it would have been nice if he could have helped. Her Gran and her Mum had done everything for her.

Well, Phyllis, do you want a drink and something to eat before you go? My bus goes out soon, so I have to get back to work. Owen bought Phyllis a sandwich and drink, then went back to work. Well done again, Phyllis, I’m proud of you, girl. And he was gone. Well, at least I saw him today, thought Phyllis. Diana and Thomas gave her some cake and drink and she set off home.

Well, Phyllis, did you see him today?

Yes, Gran, I did.

Why don’t you look happy then?

Well, I told him about my scholarship and he was pleased. He even said that he was proud.

So he should be, what’s wrong?

Well, he said that he didn’t have any spare money for my uniform. I didn’t ask him for money. I just wanted him to know.

Don’t upset yourself, Phyllis. You’ve told him and he’s proud. That’s something. Did he get you anything to eat or drink?

Yes, he did today and Diana and Thomas also gave me something.

Good. So not a bad day all round. And don’t worry about your uniform. We’ll pay your Godmother to make it. After all, she is a dressmaker and a fine one, too. You’ll be the smartest girl at Secondary school. Smartest uniform and smartest mind!

Thank you, Gran. What would I do without you?

Clithie was angry at Owen. He’d never really helped. He had his new family and had avoided his old one. He breaks that girl’s heart all the time. He’s lucky to have such a lovely daughter. Still, he is Phyllis’s dad and she loves him so I can’t say what I really think to her. She’ll realise one day how selfish he is. She already knows he’s unreliable, she thought to herself.

Clithie was a small woman, barely five-feet-tall. She was slightly built but strong, physically and emotionally. There wasn’t a lot of work