“Things don’t remain as they was… man messed it up and it becomes so hostile.”
Ena Radway was born in Jamaica and her husband sent for her in 1962.
“I came to the UK ending of March 1962; I was 25. I was married and my husband came over first, about nine months before.
He was always a traveller, my husband, and he sent for me. The Queen, as you all know, invite us to come to this country… if you could afford to pay the boat fare.
We were British subjects at that time, before Jamaica getting independence. Everything began to rather unravel, and then the problems start. My first hospital job was at Glan Ely, Fairwater in Cardiff… [I did] six years doing nights when my children were young.
I wanted a job in the Gwent… so in 1972, I received a form and went for the interview and got the job. I worked 18 years on nights until my youngest could stay on their own. My husband had a day job. Then I come on days to
work.
I didn’t think I would [be] retired in this country, because everybody come here and say they would spend five years and go back.
My parents didn’t have a lot, but they give us whatever they could afford… we hoped when we came here that we could help them.
My strength that keeps me going is God. I do whatever is in my power to help. Don’t know what the future holds, but for now I feel like I’m settled.”
“Dyw pethau ddim yn aros yr un fath… fe wnaeth dynolryw wneud llanast ohoni, a throi pethau mor anghyfeillgar.”
Ganed Ena Radway yn Jamaica, ac anfonodd ei gŵr amdani yn 1962.
“Fe ddois i’r Deyrnas Unedig ddiwedd Mawrth 1962; roeddwn i’n 25 mlwydd oed.
Roeddwn i’n briod a fy ngŵr ddaeth gyntaf, tua naw mis ynghynt. Teithiwr oedd e erioed, fy ngŵr, ac fe anfonodd amdanaf i. Fel y gwyddoch, gwahoddodd y Frenhines ni i ddod i’r wlad hon... os gallech chi fforddio talu am eich tocyn llong.
Roedden ni’n ddeiliaid Prydeinig bryd hynny, cyn i Jamaica gael annibyniaeth. Dechreuodd pethau ddatod, ac yna dechreuodd y problemau.
Fy swydd gyntaf mewn ysbyty oedd yng Nglanelái, Tyllgoed, Caerdydd... [fe wnes i] chwe blynedd o shifftiau nos pan roedd fy mhlant yn ifanc.
Roeddwn i eisiau gweithio yn y Gwent... felly yn 1972, fe ges i ffurflen ac fe es i am gyfweliad a chael y swydd. Fe wnes i weithio 18 mlynedd ar shifftiau nos nes roedd fy mhlant ieuengaf yn gallu bod ar eu pennau eu hunain. Swydd yn ystod y dydd oedd gan fy ngŵr. Yna fe ddechreuais i weithio’r shifft ddydd.
Doeddwn i ddim yn meddwl [y buaswn i] yn y wlad hon wedi ymddeol, oherwydd roedd pawb yn dod yma ac yn dweud eu bod am aros am bum mlynedd a mynd yn ôl.
Doedd gan fy rhieni ddim llawer, ond roedden nhw wedi rhoi popeth y gallent ei fforddio i ni... roedden ni’n gobeithio, wrth ddod yma, y bydden ni’n gallu eu helpu nhw.
Fy nerth i ddal ati yw Duw. Rwy’n gwneud beth bynnag sydd o fewn fy ngallu i helpu.
Wn i ddim beth sy’n fy nisgwyl yn y dyfodol, ond am y tro, rwy’n teimlo fy mod wedi setlo.”