Description:My name is Eunice Campbell and I am 72 years old. I was born in Jamaica in the Parish of St Andrews in the district of Rockhall. I am of Caribbean origin and came to England in 1960, I even remember the date it was on the 20th September and I came to join my husband. I was very upset at leaving my parents, 4 brothers and 3 sisters behind. This was my first experience being on board an aeroplane. I arrived at Gatwick airport on a Tuesday at 7.30 in the morning, and it was a very cold and dull day.
I was instructed to get a taxi to Euston and then the train to Snow Hill, Birmingham. It felt like a very long journey and I was glad to travel with others from Jamaica. I have been living in England ever since and it has been, in fact, a good 48 years. I first lived in Handsworth and then later on, moved to Lozells.
My very first job was working as an auxiliary nurse at Dudley Road Hospital and I did this for about 3 years. In looking back now, as a migrant black nurse, I did find it achieving in caring for the elderly but I was not treated very kindly by the patients and suffered a lot of harsh, verbal discrimination. This was really down to peoples attitudes that were cruel and selfish at that time.
I did move on and worked with the Salvation Army, in social care for 20 plus years. This work was rewarding and I really enjoyed it because it was still, helping other people.
Photograph courtesy of Veena Gogna