Born of Jamaican parents who had migrated to Britain in the sixties, Susan Pitter was inspired when she saw the lovely photos in the funeral programme of her Dad's friend, to create an elegant publication, "Eulogy" for the Jamaica Society Leeds.
The well-researched book includes the history of the "Windrush generation", photographs and quotes donated by 76 families whose parents and grandparents had migrated to Leeds over two decades from the 1940s. Some were former RAF members who after the war, decided to settle down there.
Their stories tell of ambitious, decent, hardworking families who were activists and contributed to the development of their community. One nurse recalls that even as she was caring for patients, they were disrespecting her with racist remarks.
Susan's parents were an attractive couple, Hermerde and Enid Pitter (nee Neil) who hailed from St. Elizabeth. They worked hard to raise their four children, all of whom are successful professionals. 'Eulogy' is a valuable keepsake and all proceeds go to the Jamaica Society Leeds.
Susan quotes the late Professor Rex Nettleford in her book: "If you don't find the time to document your own history, it is likely to be forgotten – or worse still, misrepresented."
No comments:
Post a Comment