Jamaican Family Search Genealogy Research Library
A SHORT HISTORY OF LITTLE LONDON, JAMAICA
1924-1948
THE PEOPLE WHO LIVED AND WORKED IN LITTLE LONDON
INTRODUCTION
To those of you, who have read my first book "Little London and me", will remember that I listed the names of people who I could remember residing in the village, as an appendix. This book is adding flesh to that appendix.
Many of the names listed have now passed on, but I assure you they lived, worked, walked around and shopped in the Little London Square.
If I have left out anyone or their family or friends names from this book please forgive me its just an old man's fading memory and not done intentionally.
I take this opportunity to implore, to beg a citizen or a group of citizens of Little London to take up where I have left off. Help is available from the Jamaican Memory Bank, part of the Institute of Jamaica, in the person of Mrs Hazel Ramsey McClune, telephone 922-4793.
Go for it, you can do it!
Best wishes
Ralph Ottey
A SHORT HISTORY OF LITTLE LONDON
Families and people who I remember living in Little London up to 1948
The Square - Shopkeepers
Mr Edward (Son, Son) Vickers, Harriet Vickers (Miss Harry) his mother Valda Thrifina (Miss Thrif), his wife, daughters Lola and Carmen and son Wilton. Miss Thrif's second husband, Ansell Gordon and their son Ansell Jnr.
Son, Son Vickers and his wife Miss Thrif ran a store, which sold fabrics, was a rum shop and they also sold gasoline. At one time he owned the only car in Little London. He was a good shot with his gun and often went shooting for Pea Dove, Bald Pate and Lapwing at Drummond Lodge and Old Hope Estates.
Miss Thrif was known for being a good pianist who gave music lessons. Lola and Wilton went to boarding school in Kingston and did not return to Little London. Carmen was very bright. As a teenager she was known to have her own views and had the ability to express them to her elders.
Mr Willie Young, his sons, Levy, Lindo and Jackson. Levy's wife (Miss Levy), their daughters Mavis, Bernice, Lillian and son Fred L (Myers).
Willie Young was a Chinese man, he ran the largest store in the square selling groceries, clothes, rum and gasoline. His daughter-in-law, (Miss Levy) ran a smaller store opposite. Her children all went to the local school and attended the Wesleyan Hill Methodist Church. When his sons left Little London the business fell apart so he sold out to Tarzan Lee and opened a small shop at One Stock, near the Masefield playing field. His wife either died or returned to Hong Kong from whence they came. Willie Young like all the Chinese in Little London was liked and respected. He gave credit in times of hardship and would contribute rum and kerosene oil at wakes.
Mr Tarzan Lee and his wife - they had no children.
Tarzan Lee, a Chinese man, bought Willie Young's store and made improvements. He had a Delco electricity generator and had electric light throughout the shop. He built a rice-threshing mill and experimented in making soap from local material. He was a man with short temper, when in a rage he would go red in the face and couldn't speak for many seconds. When he recovered he would smile and be very charming. He was very much a village man and would pack groceries in very small denominations e.g. penny rice, penny flour, penny codfish etc. He participated in local gossip and banter and was quite generous to villagers in times of misfortune.
Mr Williams, his Wife, their sons Louis, Fred and Winston and daughters Hyacinth, Enid and Winsome.
The Williams, a Chinese family, had a shop opposite Son, Son Vickers' shop. They were a popular family. The store sold groceries, clothing fabrics and rum. Mr Williams was a Freemason and the local big wigs from Sav la mar would come and dine with the family. He was also recognised as a good cook. Louis was the first person from Little London to volunteer for service in the R.A.F. Hyacinth went to England to study Radiography and Fred left home to marry a half-Chinese girl from Sav La Mar. The Williams were a family unit they all served in the shop except for Mr Williams who spent his time in the background. He was the only Chinese man in Little London to venture into agriculture. He bought lands locally and cultivated sugar cane. The Williams family was fully integrated into village life.
Mr Chung and his wife, a Chinese family (they had no children) and cousin Spree Boy.
Mr Chung and his cousin Spree Boy ran a store on the top road not far from Son, Son Vickers' store. He sold groceries, fabric, rum. Spree Boy got the name because he was very popular with the local young ladies. His store was the only pure concrete building in the Square. It was the only store with an upstairs and downstairs. The shop was downstairs while the family lived upstairs. This was most unusual because the Chinese more often than not would live behind the shop.
Mr Stanford Chin and his wife - they had no children.
Stanford was part Chinese, and ran a grocery and clothing store. He started a football team, which played at Masefield Common. He was a handsome, very athletic young man who was admired by many of the local young ladies. He held late night curried goat and rice parties, with other young men. Little London was too small for him. He sold up and went to Kingston to make his fortune.
Mr Josel Reid and his wife Mahalia - they had no children.
Josel Reid, son of John Reid, was a shoemaker, and a shopkeeper. He also suffered from depression and had intervals at the Mental Asylum in Kingston. His wife looked after the shop while he made and repaired boots and shoes. They were fervent Jehovah's Witnesses; and could quote chapter and verse of Judge Rutherford the cults founder sayings. He had a popular assistant named Reggie Stone.
Miss Florence Davis.
Miss Florence ran small grocery store near Miss Levy's store. The building also housed Dr Martins' dispensary. She copied the Chinese and sold her merchandise in small denominations ½ penny corndrops, 1 penny gratercake, ½ penny cornpone. She was a kind friendly lady who was part of the big Davis family on Broughton Road. She had brothers Bill, Joe, Daniel and Ben and two sisters Miss Davis on Station Road and Mrs Grant, (Arthur Grant's mother) who lived at Stoneland further down the Broughton Road.
Mrs Citta Meyler (cousin Citta) daughters Ethline and Melda, sons Jim, John, Vincent and granddaughter Audrey.
The Meyler family headed by Cousin Citta lived on The Bay Road side of the square. They operated a bakery and shop. John had a cabinetmakers workshop and furniture store, on the front of their property and on the Bay Road. They gradually disposed of most of it to Teacher Hall and Peter Daley. Both John and Vincent were involved in local politics from an early age. The Meylers, via cousin Citta, were descendants of the Drummonds of nearby Drummond Lodge. John moved his cabinetmaker's business to Sav la Mar. Vincent followed him and joined Rupert Cunningham's tailoring establishment on Great George Street, Sav la Mar.
Mrs Della Cockett (Miss Dell).
Miss Dell was Miss Birdie Pringles' mother. She returned from Bocas Panama with the Pringles and opened a small grocery shop and eating-place. She was noted for her salt fish fritters, cornpone, grater cake and coconut drops. Most of her customers were children from the nearby Wesleyan School. She was adored by her many grandchildren, especially her grandson Harvey Pringle, who lived with her for many years. The local boys would hang about Miss Dell's shop in the hope of some freebies, which they often received. She was a kind and generous lady. Miss Dell was friendly with a blind man called Pickup James from Moreland Hill, some six miles away. Mr James would try and make the journey on foot, unaided, every Thursday to see her.
Miss Hilda Stone.
Miss Hilda, daughter of Willie Stone and brother to Egbert (Eggie), ran a small grocery store with her brother; she also provided meals to order. She like her mother Miss Angie was a staunch member and supporter of the Wesleyan Methodist Church. She used to bake cakes and other confectioneries for the annual Harvest Festival and sang in the Church Choir. Eggie helped her run the business, and then he died after a short illness in his early twenties. She was broken hearted so she closed the business and lived with her sister in Kingston. She became unsettled. She returned to Little London and re-opened her shop.
Papa Lawn
Papa Lawn lived everywhere and nowhere. He was not the village idiot. He did not go about in rags, but his clothing was most of the time dirty. His parents were not known. All that was known of his antecedents was that his paternal grandfather's name was Lawn and that he was known for playing a bamboo fife at wakes and jankaroos. He never went to school or church. His main occupation was running errands, mainly delivering telegrams for the post office. He was noted for his prowess as a strong swimmer and at Hope Wharf he could out swim everyone. He was also very athletic. No one could keep up with him in middle and long distance running. It could very well be that because of the situation obtained in rural Jamaica in the 1940's Jamaica failed to provide athletics with a middle distance or even a marathon world champion. "He bloomed to blush unseen".
On the Bay Road
The Pringles - Mr Joe Pringle (Mass Joe), his wife Birdie (Miss Birdie), their sons, Emile, Harvey Josiah, Donald and Tony and daughters Merle, Beryl & Daphne.
The Hunters - Mr & Mrs Hunter, their sons Donald, Mauna, Eddie and daughter Leila (Cissy).
Mass Joe was a fervent Seventh Day Adventist, but Miss Birdie and all the children attended the Wesleyan Methodist Church. Mass Joe sold his banana plantation in Becas Panama, and planted bananas in Cambridge St James and at Warborough near Grange Hill. Merle and Emile spent most of their time with their Uncle at the "Cottage". Mass Joe was a very strict father and although Miss Birdie and the children were allowed to worship at the Wesleyan Church, Sabbath was enforced in the household from 6pm on Fridays to 6pm on Saturdays. Emile, who was a man about town and involved in horse racing etc, had the misfortune of losing an arm, the result of being crushed by a machine in his Uncle (Sir Johns) sugar mill.
The Hunters at the Cottage
The Hunters owned the "Cottage" before the Pringles, Busha Hunter was the overseer at Meylersfield Sugar Estate. There were sons Donald, Mauna and Eddie and daughter Sheila. The family were staunch supporters of the Wesleyan Church and School. Mauna was an engineering genius who could repair and maintain all known internal combustion engines. The family moved to Sav la Mar after selling the Cottage to the Pringles.
The Pringles at the Cottage - Mr Thomas Pringle JP (Sir John) and his wife, Aunt May, sons Hathway, Monzie, Lesley (Bull) and daughters, Bernice (cousin Burns), Leila (Cissy), Ivy and adopted daughter Monica Sloley (Moonie).
Sir John was the General Manager of the Chemical Works Wharf in Sav la Mar. He was a high flyer and in the end lost all of his money. The "Cottage" was the only two-storey house in The Village with verandas at the front and back. He built and operated a small Mascovado sugar factory at the cottage. His nephew Emile lost an arm in an accident. His wife fondly known as Aunt May was well known for her charitable nature. Anyone however lowly who visited the "cottage" would always leave with something to eat. Bernice was for many years a teacher at the Elementary School. She was a notable elocutionist, who arranged school concerts and plays.
The Pringles were descendants of the Drummonds of Drummond Lodge via Aunt May, whose grandfather was a Drummond.
Peter Daley, wife Melda (nee Meyler) and their two sons
Peter Daley had a tailor shop, which was the most popular in the village. He was a prominent member of the Wesleyan Methodist Church and a member of the choir. He was a senior member of the local Agricultural Society. He owned lands locally where he cultivated the Sugar cane, which he sold to the Sugar cane factories at Masemure and Retreat. He was a well-known and respected citizen.
Mr John Reid (Wesleyan Hill Rooster and Wild Boy).
John Reid was a shoemaker and father of Josel Reid. He had a shop opposite the Wesleyan Church on Wesleyan Hill. He was a tall slim man with a small moustache. He was reputed to have many female admirers, hence the rooster and wild boy nicknames. He had a big orange tree near his house, which bore the biggest and sweetest oranges in the village. He would tie an empty uncorked bottle on the tree, the wind would blow in it making a whistling sound. This and the news that anyone who ate his oranges without his permission would develop severe stomach pains did not deter the local boys raiding his orange tree.
Mr Bernard.
Mr Bernard owned the land between Winston Black and Lancie Tullis lands. He was a relative of Josel Reid and allowed him to build a workshop on the land. He spent time "a foreign" and on his return settled down quietly amongst his relatives and friends in the village. He was a descendant of the great Dan Dan Bernard; who gave his name to a little stream running right through Little London, called Dan Dan Gutter.
The Wesleyan Church
I remember those ministers who were all white. Rev. Britton King, Rev. Stanley Canon, Rev. Thomas Whitfield, Rev. Claude S. Cousins, Rev. John Morton and Rev Mathew Andrews
Teachers at the Wesleyan Hill Elementary School
Mr J R E Hall, Mrs Ethel Goldson, Mrs Nortel Hall, (Miss Norrie), Mr O A Black, Miss Lindel Allen, Miss Bernice Pringle, Miss Olga Lewis and Mr R C Tavares.
Teacher J R E Hall, his wife (Miss Norrie) and adopted son Lancie Tullis.
Teacher Hall wasn't a born ya, he came from Stony Hill in Saint Andrew. James Robert Emmanuel Hall was for many years 'Mr Little London'. He was head teacher at the local Elementary School and over the years-acquired lots of lands. He was very popular and so was his wife Miss Norrie. While he buried the village's dead and preached at the Wesleyan Church every other Sunday. Miss Norrie played the church organ and organised sacred concerts and musical recitals at Harvest Festivals and Missionary meetings. Miss Norrie was also head of the primary school. She taught thousands their ABC.
Miss Norrie was a member of the notable Tullis family who lived near the five mile signpost on the Bay Road. There wasn't much known about Teacher Hall's antecedent. It was generally thought that he came from Stony Hill in St Andrew, but no family had ever visited him in Little London.
Miss Viola Clark, (cousin Vie), son Winston Blake and his daughters Gwen and Hannah.
Cousin Vie descended from the Bernard's. She was a very tiny lady who worked for the Public Works department. Her son, Winston now lives on the property with his sister Hannah. Her property joins my grandparents' and it was used as a short cut for trips to the Church, School and the Square. She was a niece of Miss Kate Goldson and was brought up by her.
Mr Ephraim Williams, his wife Sarah; (my grandparents), daughters Ruby, Daisy and sons Samuel and Wesley.
Sarah was a descendant of the Drummonds of Drummond Lodge her paternal Grandfather was a Drummond. Sarah had a brother Lewis Drummond who was killed in a Panamanian revolution.
Ephraim and Sarah were prominent in the village especially in matters concerning the Wesleyan Methodist Church and the Agricultural Society. Sarah inherited the property from her grandfather, George White who inherited it from his grandfather. Most of the family who have passed on are buried in the family's burial plot, under a big ackee tree. Sarah was godmother to many children, Chinese and Indian amongst them. Her favourite, being Winston Blake. She was very proud of her godchild, Rev Coolsingh who was the first Indian in Westmoreland to be ordained in the Presbyterian Church. Her greatest triumph in that field was to get a neighbour to have her son Gerald Williams christened when he was a grown up teenager.
George White was a botanist, and he used the property as a trial ground for exotic fruits, such as naseberry, guava, tamarind, guinep, star apple, mango, cherrymeana, jew plum, sugar plum, sweet limes, orange, grapefruit, ackee pomegranate and coconut. A mango tree still exists, producing fruit on a yearly basis. It is known in the family as "Miss Ann" because the fruit has a pale skin with brown spots, and Miss Ann White, George White's sister was very fair with freckles.
Miss Dorcas Allen, her sons Slenchy, Kissock Laing and her daughter.
Dorcas Allen (Miss Dorcie) known as a local beauty, sold fresh Godame fish and made the most delicious corn dumplings. Over the years she had many young and constant visitors, not only was she a good cook, but a generous one. No visitor left Miss Dorcie's house without something to eat.
Mr & Mrs Jackson (Indian couple) - they had no children.
This couple did not live together but remained friends. Mr Jackson was a handy man, could turn his hand to anything. He operated on a chicken and took a scorpion out of its craw. The chicken survived. Mrs Jackson was a strong Indian lady who worked hard in planting rice, threshing it and selling it on the market. She also grew callaloo, cumbers, cho chow, lettuce, peppers and raised chickens. She was quite self sufficient.
Bandsman Johnson, who used to have Pocomania religious meetings at his house
Bandsman lived between the Jacksons and the Campbells. His pocomania meetings always started after service at the Wesleyan Church. I wasn't allowed to attend, but I did. There was plenty of food and music and Rum was drunk on the quiet. Some of the followers fell to the ground frothing at the mouth and in a trance. It was good fun. At that age it did not occur to me that many of them would have been under the influence of alcohol. The followers were all dressed in white clothing and head-dress. The music was supplied by a bass drum, a kettledrum and a cornet.
Mr & Mrs Campbell, their son Garrell, daughters Myrtle and Sheila (Indian family).
The Campbells lived across the road from my grandparents' house, a distance of some two hundred yards. They were a very handsome family. Mr Campbell was a Head Man at Meylersfield Sugar Cane Estate. Garrell died while a student at Mannings High School Sav-La-Mar. The Campbells bought their land from Godmother Thompson (Godma T). The Campbell's did not cultivate rice, but cultivated yams, sweet potatoes, cassava, pumpkins etc. They were a well respected family.
Big G Goldson, Mrs Kate Goldson and their adopted daughter Tamazena.
Miss Kate, the wife of Big G Goldson, was a small woman with a mouth full of ivory white teeth. The family owned property on the Broughton Road called Brenatill. They moved from Brenatill and built a house on the Bay Road property. Tamazena married Teacher Samuel's son. He ran a mule and cart business taking cane to Masemure Sugar Factory. Big G Goldson was a tall, big man who was noted for rum drinking and horse riding.
Miss Wilson and sons Jim Lawrence, Charlie Green and grandson, Clifton Green (Sugar).
Miss Wilson had a house built at the back of Kate Goldson's land. So did her sons, Jim and Charlie. Her sons were carpenters, well known and respected in the village. They bought land further on the Bay Road from Maurice Segree's Long Pond Estate and eventually all three households moved there.
Mr Egbert Thompson, (Cousin Egbert) his wife Adela, daughter Phyllis, sons Hugh, (my best boyhood friend) and two other boys.
Cousin Egbert and Miss Adela lived some 800 yards from my grandparents on Miss Kate Goldson's land. Their son, Hugh and I were inseparable. We were like brothers. Cricket, swimming, fights, catching crabs, name it we did it together. They bought land from the Estate adjoining Jim Lawrence and Charlie Green and built a house on it. Hugh left Little London and worked as a manager on the Barnett Estate, Montego Bay.
Godmother Thompson, (Godma T)
Godma T was an old widow who lived next to the Campbells. She sold out to the Dowells and spent the rest of her life in a house next to Teacher Hall's, which was built on her land next to the Elementary School. She was a tall, big woman with freckles on her face. It was understood that she had family who lived away. No one ever visited her, the local boys had free run of the land, to eat her mangoes, plums, naseberries and coconuts.
Mr & Mrs Dowell
The Dowel's had no children. They were strangers to the village and attended the Wesleyan Methodist Church. They bought Godma T's property and although much younger that her, they allowed the local boys to help themselves to the various fruits available on the property.
Miss Maudy Young and her sister Gwen and Miss Edwards their mother.
Miss Maudy lived next door to Miss Dorcie and was related to the Jackson's, the Indian family. Her mother Miss Edwards lived with them.
The Sankey family, Clevland, sister Lois and their brother.
Mr Sankey was a Busha at Masemure Sugar Cane Estate. He bought some land from Miss Kate Goldson and lived next door to Egbert Thompson and his family, before the Thompsons moved further down the road. I do remember knocking Lois down with my bicycle while giving Dudley Davis a lift home and getting a severe reprimand from Teacher Black (O.A.B.) the following day. She wasn't severely hurt and was back at school the following day.
Mr Obediah Miller (separated husband of (Miss Meg).
Mass Obe was a tall, big man who maintained a close cropped beard. He was known as Miss Meg's husband. He made fish pots from bamboo and caught Godame at nearby Blythe Gutter. His house was next to Sankey's. He later moved and lived on Broughton Road.
Mr & Mrs Saffrey & son Harold, (Indian family).
The Saffrey's had a nice house near Blythe Gutter. Mr Saffrey was a penner at Retrieve Sugar Cane Estate. He looked after the bullocks, mules and horses on the estate. His son, Harold followed in his footsteps, taking care of the farm animals at Retrieve. He was very bright at school, but left before he was 12 years old to work with his father. Mr & Mrs Saffrey separated. She went back to her family in Logwood and Harold went to Retrieve to live with his father. Mrs Saffrey was a small half-Indian lady who visited my grand mother on a regular basis bringing small gifts of rice, crayfish and godame. It could very well be that Harold was one of my grandmother's many godchildren.
Mr Baker Blake, wife Rachael, Grandparents to Dall Grant (Winston Blake's father), daughters Clarisa, Lorraine, Fredrica and Flora, and brother to Bad John Davidson, his next door neighbour.
Baker Blake was a giant of a man who worked at Meylersfield Sugar Estate making sure the fields were irrigated. His mother was Nellie Blythe after whom Blythe Gutter was named. The Blake's were a well-respected family in the village. Lorraine was my Cousin Christine's best friend and was a frequent visitor to our home. Baker Blake was known for his great strength. He was noted for telling Anancy and duppy stories.
John Davidson, (BAD John), his wife, their sons Joe Joe, Aaron, Wesley, Charlie and daughters Mabel and Ethlene.
Bad John was a noted local cricketer, who hit the most and longest sixes in the village's history. He played for the Bay Road team. He was a son of Nellie Blythe. The Davidsons were a very well respected family. They had some tall coconut trees at the front of the house, which seemed always full of fruit. Bad John cultivated rice in enough quantity to feed his family and sell in the covered market in the Square. Aaron was a tailor trained by Peter Daly. Charlie married our neighbour Myrtle Campbell.
Mrs Meggy Miller, (Miss Meg)and their sons Lacelles and Cecil.
Miss Meg was a small woman who lived opposite the Blake's on the Bay Road and close to Blythe Gutter. She was noted for selling the best fish and peg bread in the village. She would travel on foot early in the morning 12 miles to Negril to buy the best red snapper and goat mullet available. Lacelles and Cecil carried their names in Little London's folklore, by being the little David's who slew the giant bully, Rufus Jones, after he assaulted Miss Meg. They actually chopped him up and left him for dead on the Bay Road, alas he survived.
Baba Noble, Mrs Wilhel Noble, their daughter Maude Foot, granddaughters Leila and Winsome Vassell, Bradison Sinclair, grandson, Eric Powell.
Miss Wilhel was the wife of Baba Noble who lived with his daughter at the 5-Mile Post on the Bay Road. The family was the caretakers at the Wesleyan Methodist Church. They cleaned and polished the church furniture and looked after the sacramental utensils. Her granddaughters Leila and Winsome were my classmates. They were also caretakers of the local government dispensary. They were a well-known and respected family.
Mr David Anderson, (Mass Dave) and wife Dun Dun, (no children).
Mass Dave was an old man he and his wife Dun Dun were fervent Wesleyan Church members. Mass Dave took the collection plate around. He used to make sure that I didn't miss the plate because he knew my grandparents always gave me collection money. He had plenty of fruit trees surrounding his house; orange, mango, grapefruit, sugarplums etc. Needless to say he had visits from the local boys, some invited, others not. Mass Dave and Dun Dun were quite generous, one could help oneself to oranges, especially from the trees which had wasp's nests.
Mr & Mrs Bandoo, their daughters Nora and Kema, and sons Leslie (Rallyman), Greeneth and Sammy (Indian family).
The Bandoos lived opposite Mass Dave's property on the Bay Road. Mr Bandoo and his family lived in a very modern house. He made his money as a fisherman catching and selling Godame at Little Bridge. Rallyman and Greeneth were both prominent members of the Bay Road Cricket team as bowlers. Rallyman was a clever medium pacer; his subtle variation in flight and pace could deceive the best of batsmen. Nora, Kema and Sammy went to Little London Elementary School. The family was members of the Top Road Presbyterian Church.
Mr Gopaul, his wife Beauty and their son Charles (Zaccie). (Indian Family)
The Gopaul family lived next door to the Bandoos. Mr Gopaul made a living planting, threshing and selling rice. Zaccie was a school mate and cricketing colleague. He was undoubtedly the best all-round schoolboy cricketer in Westmoreland. We never knew what Mrs Gopauls Christian name was. She was quite beautiful and was known as Beauty. Zaccie followed the Indian tradition of marrying early, but he still ran around with the Bay Road boys. He was certainly one of them.
Herbert Graham and Family
Mr Graham bought some land from the Long Pond Estate owned by Mr Maurice Segree next to the Gopauls. He was a hard working man who had a large prominent plot at Caanan Mountain and could be seen laden with yams, cassavas, breadfruit etc. He was, with his family were well respected in the village.
Mr Willie Flear and family, (a district constable and local butcher).
Mr Flear was a very tall and slim man. He would ride his little donkey around the village selling goat's meat. He was also a well known District Constable, who would go on patrol with the local police. He would call at our house and had long conversations with my grandparents. They were godparents to number of his children.
Holland Blair
Holland Blair was a jobbing carpenter who did repairs throughout the village. He was part deaf. He, like most of the local carpenters, gave their services free in making coffins. Winston Blake was one of his apprentices.
Mrs Esther Davidson, (Aunt Esther), sons David, Manson, Frederick and Isaac, nephews Lawrence (Bud) Heron and Cyril Heron and daughter Mrs Woodcock.
Aunt Esther, as she was popularly known, was a formidable widow who looked after her brood with a firm hand. Her sons Isaac and Manson, owned lorries and taxis while David was a tailor. Frederick dabbled in business. They were considered wealthy and very well respected. The Davidsons had a large property (Davidson Land) on the Broughton Road. It was very fruitful with mangoes, plums and guavas. Lawrence Heron, known as Bud was a cricketer of note, a fast bowler and a useful batsman. He was tall, slim and very athletic. His brother Cyril was a much quieter and reserved character. He was a prominent member of the Church of God congregation.
The Wallace Family
There was Cornel Wallace and his sons, Ainsley and Manley. Cornel had a mule and cart business taking canes to Masemure Sugar Factory. There was also his sister Amanda, (Miss Manda), who was married to Ben Davis. She had a daughter, Elsie and two sons, Clarence and Dudley. Miss Manda had a small grocery shop at the front of the house. The family was staunch supporters of the Top Road Presbyterian Church. They were a well-known and respected family.
On Broughton Road (Hope Wharf Road)
Mr & Mrs Thomas and their daughter, Mabel.
Mr Thomas died when I was quite young but I remember attending his funeral. Mrs Thomas left the village with Mabel, after selling her land to Teacher Hall. When Godma T died, Teacher Hall buried her on what was Thomas land in the early 1940s. Mabel worked for my Grandfather Ottey, at East Street Sav-La-Mar, as cook and housemaid.
A family (a lady and 2 sons) supporters of the Salvation Army.
This family came from Delve Land and lived opposite Frederick Davidson's grocery store. They were ardent Salvation Army people. They were very private and kept themselves to themselves. The boys were very quiet and did not mix much with the local boys. They did not go dancing or visiting the rum bars in the Square.
Miss Florence Davis and her brother Ben Davis.
Miss Florence ran a small grocery shop in the Square and lived in the old family house with her brother Ben, who was estranged from his wife Miss Manda. They were very well respected throughout the village.
Mr Daniel Davis, brother of Bill Davis.
Daniel Davis returned to Little London after many years "a foreign". He built a house between his sister Florence and his brother Bill. He was a very tall man, who walked with a limp, the consequence of a horse riding accident. He had a presence in the Square because he used to have heated discussions regarding the conduct of the war, with Luther Meyler and Ansell Gordon in the Miss Thriff Rum Bar.
Mr Bill Davis, his wife, their daughter Miss D and sons Everest, Fred, Nathaniel, Talbert, Noel and Arnold.
Bill Davis and his family would have been the best known family in the village. They worked as a unit and were considered wealthy. They ran a butchery business and a transport business carting canes to sugar factories. Bill Davis was a leader in the Wesleyan Church also a District Constable. He was also the overseer of a property near Delveland called "Villa" owned by Dr Seaton of Sav-La-Mar. The whole family was well known for their horse riding abilities. I remember Arnold being born during the 1933 hurricane. Bill was popularly known as Mr. D.
Mr & Mrs Rowe, daughters Harriett, Etheline, Gwendoline and sons Vincent, Zephy and Alex.
The Rowe family lived next to Bill Davis' family. All the children attended the elementary school and were churchgoers, at the Presbyterian Church, Top Road. The Rowe's were a well-known and respected family. Harriett and Vincent were my grandmother's godchildren and were frequent visitors to our home.
Mr & Mrs Lock and their Two daughters.
The family were ardent members of the Wesleyan Church and lived next to the Rowes. The daughters attended the local Elementary School and were quite popular. The eldest girl was very quiet and reserved, while the younger girl was boisterous and full of fun. One of the girls was called Vina. They were both pretty girls and attracted the attention of the local boys.
Mr Solomon Brown (cousin Salla), his wife (Miss Min), sons Milton, Berris, Eddie and adopted son Rufus Titus.
Cousin Salla managed the local covered market. Had a sugar making business and a property of many acres, stretching along the Brown Bush Road from Broughton Road to adjoining our property on the Bay Road. Cousin Salla was a leader in the Wesleyan Church and chorister. He was a prominent member of the Agricultural Society. Son Berris was a carpenter and Milton and Eddie assisted in running the property and the sugar making business. Rufus was a tall, slim lad who could bowl a cricket ball quite fast indeed. Milton was very popular in the Square and also noted for his entertaining abilities at wakes. Berris was also a District Constable. Milton and Eddie were quite tall and slim.
Mr Marty Thomas.
Marty lived by himself, he neither drank, nor smoked but was always good for a banter with all and sundry. He walked with a gainly swagger. He was well -known and respected in the village.
On Station Road
The Post Office; Miss Ester Tomlinson, (Postmistress), her sister Mrs Ethel Goldson, (and my god sisters), Miss Claris Miller and Miss Olive Lock her niece.
The Postmistress job in Little London was very prestigious and Miss Esther held it with dignity. She was a leader in the Wesleyan Church, sang in the choir and played prominent roles in sacred concerts. Her sister, Miss Ethel was a teacher at the Primary School and played the Church organ. Miss Clarice went on to be Post Mistress at Sheffield and later on married Teacher Robinson, the Headmaster of Sheffield's Wesleyan School. Miss Ester left Little London to be Post Mistress at Matilda's corner in Kingston and took Olive with her.
Mrs Vernon, son Ferdinand, daughter Lucille and grandson Eddie Adams.
Mrs Vernon and her daughter were dressmakers, they also ran an infant school; son Ferdi was a well-known character in the Square. The Vernon's were a well-known and respectable family. "Ferdi" was a handsome young man. He was very argumentative and held many sessions in Son Son Vickers rum bar on the conduct of the war. He went to work on the Panama Canal for two years. He returned to the Square and later on married Enid Stokes. He was a constant drafts companion to the 'Drafts Master' Willie Stone.
Eddie Adams went to live with family in Kingston and never returned to Little London. Ferdi and Milton Brown were great friends and were an entertaining act at wakes, where there would be a mock court. Ferdi would invariably be the judge and Milton would be the accused.
Miss Campbell, sons Swainson , Locke and his brother Selvin (Pip).
Miss Campbell lived next to the Vernon's sons Swainson and Selvin who went to the local Elementary School. Selvin got the name "Pip" after playing the character in Charles Dickens' Great Expectations in a school play. Vincent Whyte played the convict. They became a team in the village and popularly known as Pip and the Convict. Swainson and Selvin's father was Harry Locke, who kept a shop at Abingdon in front of St Martin's Elementary School in Broughton.
Miss Davis, (Bill Davis sister) and her niece.
Miss Davis returned from foreign lands with her niece. She built a house just opposite the Lee's and next to Reggie Stone's shoe repair shop. She did a bit of dressmaking and the niece went to the Elementary School. Both Miss Davis and her niece were staunch members of the Wesleyan Church. Reggie Stone who was very close to the family was a real foil for Papa Lee who lived across the road. While Papa Lee was wary of the village young men, he and Reggie would engage in banter and general leg pulling.
Mr Zephy Robinson (a Tailor) and a distant cousin on my Grandfather's side of the family.
Zephy was a young tailor, just making his way in the village. He came from Ralph Mountain and was well liked. Zephy was very close to another cousin (on my grandmother's side), Hatway Clarke, who was a Shoemaker. He lived on the Old Hope Estate. They shared a plot of land and grew pumpkins etc. They would take time off and went trapping crabs. They were fairly self sufficient in food provisions.
Mr Arthur Grant, (Conomy).
Arthur ran a store selling hardware etc. He was known to take care of his money. He was a nephew of Bill Davis. The Grants were a well-known and respected family, who lived at "Stoneland", on the Broughton Road. His mother was a sister of Bill Davis and his father was a tailor. He had two sisters who attended the Elementary School and the Wesleyan Church. Arthur decided at a very early age that he would be a shopkeeper. He saved every penny he could lay his hand on locally "conomy "equates with "Thrifty" hence the nickname.
The Lee Family
The Lee's were a well-known, respected and beautiful Chinese family. Both Papa and Mama Lee were noted bakers. They had six children Myrtle, Gena, Polly, Amoy, Pat and Silbert. The Lees were an unusual Chinese family in as much as they didn't live above or behind the shop. They lived in a nice house with a veranda amongst the locals. The two elder girls Myrtle and Gena, at one time were teachers at the Sav-La-Mar Central School. The only boy Silbert at seven years old was a robust and spirited youngster. His usual prank was to run up from say six yards and jump on my back, then ride me like a horse. Polly and Amoy (known locally as Mami) attended Mannings High School, Sav la Mar. Both Mama Lee and Papa Lee, (who was known to the villagers as Shuckum Lee) were very generous, there was always free cakes and toto for the local boys if they hung around long enough. The Lee family was totally integrated in the village life.
Mr Butty Granson, his wife and family.
The Gransons property was next to the Police Station. Butty, who worked for the Public Works Department was well known and respected in the Square. He spent a lot of his spare time playing cards, draughts and dominoes with Willie Stone, Eric (Bossman) Vickers and Massa Lee in Son Son Vickers Rum Bar.
Police Station. Corporal Napier & Constable Steer.
There were many constables stationed in Little London during my youth. Corporal Napier, Constable Steer, Corporal Thomas and Constable Roach comes to mind. They were just part of the village community. Corporal Napier married Charles Murray's daughter. The top floor of the station was used as the Court House (4 and 20 steps). There were twenty-four steps leading from the Police Station up at the Court House. Court was held on the last Friday of each month. A resident magistrate presided. The Square would be a hive of activity with the Rum Bars doing brisk business. In my youth a prisoner being moved from the Little London jail to more secure custody in Sav la Mar would be handcuffed and walk six paces before the Constable who would be on his horse. The journey was six and a half miles. Judges who came to mind were Judges Ogilvie, MacCartney, Duffus and Allen. The Lawyers were Nation, Tomlinson, Wesley-Gammon, Jones and Hamaty.
Mr Beharry and family (Indian family).
The Beharry family cultivated and sold rice for a living. The children went to the local school. The Harrys as they were called lived on the Station Road, not far from the Police Station. All the children went to the Little London Elementary School and unlike most Indians stayed on until they were 15 or 16 years old. They were very much integrated into the local community. There were two sons Hugh and Beris.
Mr Gerald Gooden and Brother Willie Gayle.
Gerald and his brother Willie lived next to the Police Station and were both very good cricketers. Gerald was a great friend of Egbert (Eggie) Stone. They ran around the village and played cricket together. His younger brother Willie was reputed to be troubled with poor eye sight, however he was an outstanding batsman, especially in local school cricketing circles.
Mr & Mrs Cornish.
They lived in a modern house on the Station Road. He worked at the Sugar Cane factory at Retreat. He was a happy go lucky man. He was a brother of Sargent Cornish. They were staunch members of the Wesleyan Church and came to church very well dressed for the occasion.
Mr Man Man Dunn, his daughter and nephew Joslin Blair.
Man Man Dunn was a cartman who delivered sugar cane to the Masemure Factory. He was known for his tenacity in chasing little boys who stole canes from his cart. The Bay Road boys were adept at getting Man Man to leave his cart full of canes while chasing one of them. The others would be hiding in nearby bushes ready to help themselves, while he was busy chasing their comrade. I can remember that on my first day at primary school, his nephew Joslin Blair came up to me and said black's fancy, but red is red ants just because my skin was not as dark as his. Although, we were in the same class we never became friends.
Mr Hugh Gunnings.
Hugh was a member of the Gunnings family from Brenatill Hill Property. He ran a mule and cart business successfully delivering canes to Retreat and Masemure Sugar Factories. He bought a house from Herbie Reid, which was at Hope Wharf, some two miles from Station Road. It was the first time a house was moved into Little London by mules and cart and not by men just pulling it. He used three wooden axles, six inflated tyres plus his cart and three mules. The mules pulled while the men pushed and heaved. There was a lot of white proof rum consumed and many work songs rendered.
Lester James
Mr James was a tall thin man. He was a mason by trade. He was well known and popular in the Square. He was friends with the Vickers/Gordon family, and would arrive at the rum bar on his bicycle.
Mr Sargent Cornish and family.
Sargent Cornish was small in stature. He used to be prominent in the Christmas "masked men" show and although he had on fancy dress and tried to disguise his voice, we all knew who he was. Sargent did some jobbing carpentry and was well known and respected in the village.
Mr & Mrs Ramsay and family.
The Ramsey's lived next door to Hugh Gummings. They all went to Little London Elementary School. They were a well-known and respected family.
They had two boys Berchel and Alvin.
Mr Campbell, Sons Ma Ben, Simon, John and Amos
The Campbell's were a well-known family, who at one time owned property in the Square. They had a nice modern house, on plenty of land on the Station Road. Amos lived with his family in Broughton.
Mrs Hall her daughter Ruth (Miss Ruth), grandson Lloyd Simpson and granddaughter Gwen Hall.
Mrs Hall was noted for making peppermint sticks with red stripes and selling them in the Square. She also cooked at New Haven Great House, New Hope for the Hudson family. Her grand children Gwen and Lloyd were my school friends. She had a son named Arthur who became a well-known Westmoreland landowner and businessman. He is reputed to have his classmates reciting the following lines.
"My name is Arthur Hall
I live at Mango hall
My teacher is Teacher Hall
And I know it all"
Lionel Reid (Massa Lee) and wife
They had two children, a son, David and daughter, Sweets. Massa Lee was a tall athletic man, who lost one of his eyes. He was hard working and had a presence in the square. Although he had many violent confrontations with the local police, he, his wife and family were well respected in the village. He was a local Trade Union activist and was prominent in the Bustamante's Trade Union formative years.
Off the Station Road/Drummond Lodge Road.
Miss Maude Campbell and family.
Miss Maudy lived near the Police Station and her job was to provide meals for prisoners held in the Police Station. She was a member of the Campbell family on the Station Road. She and her family were well known and liked in the village. She had three sons who went to Little London Elementary School.
Miss Esther Gunning, daughters Mrs Christie Baldry, Bell and Clara, sons Busha, Hugh and Stainton and grandsons Ivan Cook, Jim Nicholas, Walter Vickers, Louis and Noel Wright.
Miss Ester had a huge family of children and grandchildren living in a house that had seen better days. The property named Brenatill stretched as far as the Little London Square. Busha Gunning had died before my time. He was an overseer at Masemure, but owned Brenatill as his private property. This was left in trust to all the children and grandsons. Busha did a labouring job at Meylersfield Sugar Estate. Hugh went into business. Stainton went into running a taxi service. He was a close friend and business associate of Lindo Young, one of Willie Young's sons. Bell who married Mr Vacciana from Delveland went into shop keeping. Miss Christie (Mrs Baldry) was a staunch supporter of the Wesleyan Church.
Herman Needham (Pasha)
Pasha lived with his mother on the Station Road, when he wasn't in prison. He had a long record of violence, chiefly with the police. He was a very intelligent and popular figure in the Square, where he often held audiences, regaling them with his escapades in the General Penitentiary, Spanish Town. He had one fight too many and was seriously injured by an assailant who disabled him by a blow with a machete. He lost the use of his left arm completely. He, however, still managed to be an effective slow bowler and batted with one arm. He also continued his fights with the police and spending time in prison.
On Top Road
Mr Charlie Vickers, (Mass Charlie), his wife, sons Glenis (GV), Eric (Bossman), Norris and daughters Gwen, Myrtle, Avis and Joyce.
Mass Charlie was a tinsmith and brother of Son Son Vickers. He also ran a taxi service. The family was one of the most prominent in the village. They lived where Mr Chung's two storey building was erected. Eric (Bossman) was a colourful character known for his prowess as a dice thrower and card player, (all for money). He had many lady admirers. Glenis popularly known as G.V was for many years the overseer at nearby Meylersfield Sugar Cane Estate. He was noted for helping local lads to get jobs with the West Indies Sugar Company. Gwen, Myrtle, Avis and Joyce went to live with family in Kingston.
Mrs Brown and her daughter Elsa.
Mrs Brown managed Son Son Vickers Rum shop and lived with her daughter Elsa, between Son Son Vickers house and the Public Works Station. Elsa went to the Elementary School. She and her mother went to live with Mr Joe Grant and his son Philbert on the Broughton Road.
At the Public Works Station
Mr & Mrs Collymore and sons Stanley and Leslie. Mr & Mrs Jones, son Wesley and daughter Avril. Mr & Mrs Rowe and daughters Joyce and Laurel.
There were many people who lived at the Public Works Station. The men were the Station Managers. I was a close school friend of Leslie Collymore and Wesley Jones. I also remembered the Rowe girls who went to the Little London Elementary School and the Wesleyan Church at the same time as myself. I think Joyce later on went to Mannings High School. Mr Jones and Mr Rowe were brothers. Both went to Little London Elementary School, left Little London and returned later as Station Managers. They were both proud of their school and supported the Past Students Association. The station was used as a change over for the mules pulling the Royal Mail. They started from Sav la Mar, changed at Little London (12 miles) and stayed overnight at Negril. The journey would be reversed the following day.
Mr & Mrs Salmon (Captain Philip and Miss Marie), daughters Inez and Dorothy.
Captain Phillip was a handsome man with one arm. He was a butcher and his dexterity was amazing, he could butcher a turtle. Miss Marie was tall and elegant reminiscent of an Eastern European Countess. There were many pretty girls in Little London and daughter, Dorothy was the prettiest of them all. The family were ardent supporters of the church and school. The Salmons and the Vickers/Gordons were great family friends. Lola, Wilton, Carmen and later on Ansell Jnr were playmates of Inez and Dorothy. Miss Marie was a great cook and baker. She had a little shop at the front of the house. I was privileged to enjoy many meals at the Salmon's house. We were doubly related, on my grandmother's side via the Herons (Miss Marie) and on my grandfather's side via the Williams (Capt. Phillip). Inez went to England and joined the A.T.S. and Dorothy aptly to a beautician school in Montego Bay.
Mr Pa Mackenzie and his wife Fanny.
Pa was well known in the Square, visiting all the rum bars and partaking in all the gossip. He was quite frail but strong of mouth. They had no children.
Mr Nathan Anderson his wife Miss Cuddie, daughters Millicent and Gertie and sons Ferdie and Simon
Mass Nate was a beef butcher who did the slaughtering on a Friday afternoon. Miss Cuddie was at one time, the manager of the Covered Market. The Anderson's were a well-respected family. Ferdie ran a mule and cart business taking canes to Masemure Sugar Factory. Miss Cuddie was the mother of Charlie Vicker's wife and therefore the grandmother of Bossman and G.V Vickers. The Anderson's were staunch members of the Presbyterian Church. Simon had a daughter named Winnie. The Anderson's were a prominent family in the village.
Dacta Nambhard
Dacta had a house on Kissock Laing's fathers' land. He was a tall big man. He worked for the Rockafeller Foundation Malaria Eradication Effort. He could not read or write so Kissock Laing and others had the task of reading the Daily Gleaner Newspaper war reports to him. His comments were confined to Yes Sir, Yes Sir.
Mr Willie Stone, his wife Miss Angie, daughters Lorraine and Hilda, son Egbert, granddaughter Kathleen Nelson, grandson Bosie Boy and granddaughter Udel, who was later adopted by Miss Hilda.
Willie Stone was a master carpenter, also a master domino and draughts player. His wife, Miss Angie and my grandmother were close friends and church sisters. Willie Stone wouldn't have anything to do with the church; but he would join with Willie Kinlock and make coffins for free and supported the unfortunates as a general rule. He was respected by all and sundry.
Mr Willie Kinlock, his wife Ada, son Eric Evans and daughter Zola.
Willie Kinlock was a jobbing carpenter, his wife, Miss Ada was a tall, vivacious lady. She loved cricket and would watch all the matches, home and away. Eric and Zola attended the local Elementary School. Cousin Willie hailed from nearby Broughton. He made coffins, dug graves, contributed food and drinks at wakes. He was Cousin Willie to everyone. Zola was adopted by Miss Ester Tomlinson and went with her to Matilda's Corner Post Office Kingston. Eric was a strong robust lad.
Miss Amy Jones and daughter Lindel Allen.
Miss Amy and her daughter Lindel lived in a nice modern house on the Top Road. Lindel was a teacher and taught at the local Elementary School for many years. Miss Amy was a sister of Public Works Station Manager, Aubrey Jones.
Mrs Daley, son Hugh Daley and daughter Thelma Williams.
Hugh and Thelma both attended Little London Elementary School where they were both popular and the Wesleyan Church. They were prominent in church activities, Sunday school, harvest festival and sacred concerts.
Mrs Williams, son Shirley Fletcher and daughter Noreen Williams. Miss Jane Excell and son Hugh Lowe.
Mrs Williams, Shirley and Noreen were ardent members of the Wesleyan Church. Shirley captained the school cricket team, and later joined the Jamaica Constabulary Force. Noreen died at a very young age. Jane Excell and her son Hugh were members of the Wesleyan Church. Hugh played cricket for the School XI. Hugh was a big lad for his age, he took part in several school plays and sacred concerts.
Mr Edward Vacciana, his wife and son.
Eddie Vacci was a local businessman, he had a grocery shop, a mule and cart business, which transported cane to Retreat and Masemure Sugar Factories. He married Miss Williams a member of a notable family from Grange Hill.
In Cottage - Mr & Mrs Arthurs, (7 Day Arthurs), two sons and a daughter, Iciline
The family was popularly known as 7 Day Arthurs because they were 7 day Adventists. The boy and Iciline went to the Elementary School. Iciline was a pretty girl, who went to live with relatives in Kingston and never returned to Little London.
Mr Simon Anderson, daughter and son Neville.
Simon Anderson was the son of Nathan Anderson. He was a tall, big man who helped his father in the butchery business. He also worked on the Masemure Sugar Estate. Neville had the job of cycling around the surrounding villages as far as Negril delivering the Daily Gleaner. He was noted for being an expert trick cyclist.
Presbyterian Church
Mr & Mrs Ridguard, daughter and son Tony.
The Ridguard's lived in the vestry at the Presbyterian Church on the Top Road. Tony was a bright youngster and won a scholarship to Mannings High School. Mr Ridguard was a small, short, man with a moustache. He took the Sunday service on a regular basis. The Ridguards were a well-known and popular family.
Mr C T Rowe (Tailor and Cutter).
Charles Rowe was an old man, a tailor, who ran his business at the gate of the Presbyterian Church. The local boys would taunt him, by staying out of range and shouting - C T Rowe Tailor and Cutter. Why he took offence in the first place we never knew. He tried but he never caught any of the boys. He was a stalwart in the Presbyterian Church, always immaculately attired in shirt, waistcoat and tie.
Mr George Rance, his wife Maudie and two daughters.
George Rance ran a mule and cart business transport of canes to Retreat and Masemore Sugar Factories. The Rance's were a well-respected family; they lived right opposite the Presbyterian Church and were ardent members. The girls went to the Little London Elementary School.
Mr Isaac Davidson, his wife and daughter.
Isaac Davidson ran a motor truck transport business, between Little London and Kingston and delivering canes to Retreat and Masemure Sugar Factories. Isaac was a member of the notable Davidson family who originated from Bay Road.
Mr & Mrs Williams, son Reggie and daughter (Mrs Reid) Indian Family.
The Williams ran the largest grocery and Rum Shop on the Top Road. Son Reggie was a well-known cricketer, particularly for his bowling. Reggie opened a small shop at New Hope and also started a cricket club. The cricket ground was not far from the shop, on the left-hand side, on the Retreat Road.
The Evans family, son Lek and others.
The Evans family lived opposite Isaac Davidson's house. The Evan's were a long established and well-known family on the Top Road. They attended the Little London Elementary School and the Presbyterian Church.
Mr & Mrs Foster and daughter Gertie, (Winston Blake's wife).
The Foster's daughter, Gertie was a popular girl while attending Little London Elementary School.
Mr & Mrs Rashford, daughter Brenda (Puncy B) and sons Dickie and Connie.
Mr Rashford ran a cabinet making business with his son Dickie. Dickie was partially deaf and a gifted artist and painter. Connie was one of the managers at Retrieve Sugar Estate and Brenda was a political animal, an activist in the Jamaica Labour Party. They were members of the Seventh Day Adventist Church. All the children attended the local Elementary School. The Rashford's were a well-known and respected family on the Top Road.
Mrs McNeil, daughter and son George.
Mrs McNeil, who lived near the Seventh Day Adventist Church, was a distant relative of my grandmother. George and I were playmates at Little London Elementary School.
Mr Charles Murray, sons Nicky and Herman, daughter Mrs Napier and granddaughter Lucille Woodcock.
Charles Murray was a big man both in stature and standing in the Little London community. He owned a motor truck, which his son Nicky operated. His other son, Herman, was a tailor and cutter and one of his daughters married Corporal Napier. He was the man who put paid to Tate & Lyle preventing people from growing corn near their sugar cane plantations, by asking in an open meeting where they got their authority. The now famous question "consanning de the man dem call Arthurs. Him a Whah?" is now part of Little London folklore.
Teacher Jehoida Lewis, wife, sons Frank and Noel (Cog) and daughters Ivy (Mrs Buck), Olga and Winnie.
Teacher Lewis came second to Teacher Hall in the village ratings and was the Headmaster of St Martins Church of England School at Broughton. The Lewis's lived in a large modern house at One Stick. His daughter, (Miss Olga), married King McKenzie from Sheffield. Winnie worked at the local Post Office. His son, Cog, and I were great friends. Teacher Lewis had a fantastic memory. He sang in the church choir well into his 80's, delivered many sermons without any written notes and recited Shakespeare at the drop of a hat. He was also famous for keeping bees and producing the best honey in the area. He was Secretary of the Westmoreland Branch Associated of the Jamaica Agricultural Society
Mrs Fanny Tomlinson (my Godmother) and daughters Miss Esther Tomlinson and Mrs Ethel Goldson.
Miss Fan lived in a new modern house at One Stick. As her godson, I was a frequent visitor. An Indian family, the Williams, later lived in the house and built a small grocery store at the gate. She was a white lady who was a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church. Her daughter, Miss Esther was the Postmistress. Miss Ethel was head of the Little London Primary School. They both left the village for Kingston.
Mrs Bernard and daughter Mum.
Mum Bernard and her mother were noted for baking grater cakes, coconut drops and peppermint rock, which they sold in the Square on a Saturday, and Saturday night. Mum went to live in Kingston and became a life long friend of my Aunt Daisy. She had a daughter named Myrtle,
Mr Ram Hoorock and his son, (Indian Family).
They were well known and liked on the Top Road. Like most of the Indian families in and around Little London, they went about their business quietly.
Mr & Mrs Brown, daughters Euphemie and Daphne.
Phemie Brown was a vivacious young lady who was larger than life. They both went to the Little London Elementary School.
On Cottage Road
Mr & Mrs Linton, son Luke and daughter Vasthi.
We used to tease the Lintons at Little London Elementary School that Mr Linton stammered and in order to get a sentence out he would say Matthew, Mark, Luke and the wireless Linton, because he could not pronounce Vasthi.
Mrs Williams and 2 Daughters, (Indian family)
They lived at One Stick and ran a small grocery shop. The daughters went to Little London Elementary School. One daughter married a banjo player in Chief Little Bears travelling show.
Lloyd Myers.
Lloyd Myers was generally worse for drink, but he was a great bowling coach. He encouraged me to bowl fast from an early age. He played cricket for both the Bay Road and the Top Road teams. He was a popular and well-known character around the village. He worked at the Meylersfield Sugar Cane Estate. For many years he and Leslie Rallyman Bandoo, kept the Top Road team going and playing cricket at the Masefield Common, ground.
Luther Meyler
Luther Meyler lived at One Stick and was Branch Secretary of the Bustamante Trade Union. He came back to Little London after years "a foreign" to preach politics and Trade Unionism. He was also part-time village photographer. He was a very respected village personality. Very smartly dressed at all times. Whenever he lost his temper, he would swear in Spanish. He was a great friend of the Gordons and was a frequent visitor to their shop in the Square.
Beris Wallace.
He lived on the Top Road and was well known for his singing and dancing. He also stood in as an umpire when Mr Daly or Mr Graham were not available. He was a very popular man in the square. He was also known for his prowess as a boxer.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
After the publication of my first book, Little London, Jamaica and Me 1924 - 1944 it was suggested that I expand the Appendix to provide a snapshot of the people of Little London.
With the help of my colleagues at the Boston Chamber of Commerce:- David Cubberley, Kaye Bramwell, Susan Berry and Frank Wilson, I have now expanded the original three pages to this small volume.
Thank you all for your continued interest in my earlier books.
Ralph
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