English | Jamaican
My Mother was English and Father Jamaican, they met on British rail when my Father came here in 1955. My parents combined their cultures with great difficulty, as both my parent’s families were against their relationship. I, like my siblings, have no problem at all with interracial relationships, unfortunately it wasn’t the same with our Grandparents. I have travelled the world and have had partners from all walks of life with different cultural backgrounds, race does not matter at all for me.
Even though we are older now we are a good-looking family and have been told that on numerous occasions. But more importantly we were brought up by our parents to accept everyone, regardless of race and religion, and our parents and close friends have always accepted the people we have dated or married regardless.
I was a semi-professional footballer from the age of 18 in 1978, and played for Dorking town, then Kingstonians in the mid-eighties and then played in Italy in Serie C2 in the nineties. I experienced much racism all throughout my footballing career. Also, at school in our early years as there were hardly any mixed-race families in the sixties.
I have worked in Parliament since 2011, working as a Parliamentary assistant to both Amber Rudd and Eric Ollerenshaw, two Tory MPs, and me being from a working-class background. When my contract finished I was still able to find another position in Parliament as an Usher and I love where I work, I also mentor under-graduates and graduates who are looking to work here, which is done in my spare time and don’t get paid for. I know how difficult it is to get into Parliament without connections, as I have done it, and long may it continue.
If I had the opportunity to be reborn I would want to return exactly the same, mixed-race with my wonderful loving parents, who have both passed now, and who we all love and miss so much. I am so very proud of where I have come from and what us as a family have achieved and as our children and grandchildren are carrying on.
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