“The word was, plenty work in Wales, because of the mines an’ all that, you know.”
Born in Dominica, Hesketh Boston came to Britain seeking work. Early job prospects included working as a machine moulder and an industrial painter.
“It was good life, on the island of Dominica, it was good…”
“But the first thing they say to you: “you must show respect to your elders” …you haven’t got to wait for them to ask you, if you see it’s wrong there, you got to straighten it yourself.”
“On the islands, you don’t get much work… No work nor nothing but everybody seems to get on, cos the people have the land, they grew their own food and sell whatever and that’s how it was on the island.”
In 1960, at the age of 19, he made the journey from Dominica to Britain alone by boat. He came to Preston and later Wales after hearing of work being available.
“You couldn’t tell what kind of work you could hope for, at the time until you get there… when we came over here… in the 60s there was plenty of work, you could start a job today, if you didn’t like it, two hours later you get a job next door… the money same day was small but it grew with the economy.”
“Yes, we came here as British citizens…I came here feeling British and after a while I was made to feel not British, we come to what they call it the Motherland…”
“I think it’s very important that the younger generation hear about these stories, for them to know what happened during that time…”
“Y sôn oedd fod digon o waith yng Nghymru, oherwydd y pyllau glo ac ati, wyddoch chi.”
Ganed Hesketh Boston ar ynys Dominica, a daeth i Brydain i chwilio am waith. Roedd cyfleoedd cynnar am swyddi yn cynnwys gweithio fel mowldiwr peirianyddol a pheintiwr diwydiannol.
“Roedd bywyd yn braf, ar ynys Dominica, roedd yn braf...”
“Ond y peth cyntaf maen nhw’n ddweud yw “rhaid iti barchu dy hynafiaid”... does dim eisiau iti aros iddyn nhw ofyn iti, os gweli di fod
rhywbeth o’i le, rhaid iti ei ddatrys.”
“Ar yr ynysoedd, does dim llawer o waith... dim gwaith na dim, ond mae pawb yn cyd-dynnu rywsut, achos fod tir gan y bobl, roedden nhw’n tyfu eu bwyd eu hunain ac yn gwerthu beth bynnag [oedd dros ben] a dyna sut roedd hi ar yr ynys.”
Yn 1960, yn 19 mlwydd oed, daeth o Ddominica i Brydain ar ei ben ei hun ar gwch. Daeth i Preston ac yn nes ymlaen i Gymru ar ôl clywed fod gwaith ar gael.
“Allech chi ddim dweud pa fath o waith i obeithio amdano, nes roeddech chi’n cyrraedd... pan ddaethon ni yma... yn y 60au roedd digonedd o waith, fe allech chi ddechrau mewn gwaith heddiw, ac os nad oeddech chi’n ei hoffi, fe allech chi gael swydd drws nesaf o fewn dwyawr... a chyflog bach oedd i’w gael yn y dyddiau hynny, ond fe dyfodd gyda’r economi.”
“Ie, fel dinasyddion Prydain ddaethom ni yma... fe ddois i yma yn teimlo’n Brydeinig ac ar ôl cyfnod, gwnaed imi deimlo fel nad oeddwn i’n Brydeinig, roedden ni wedi dod i beth roedden nhw’n ei galw’n Famwlad...”
“Rwy’n meddwl ei bod yn bwysig iawn i’r genhedlaeth iau glywed y straeon hyn, iddyn nhw gael gwybod beth ddigwyddodd yn yr adeg honno...”