Voices from History - Patrick

Transcript

Hello. My name is Patrick and I'm calling you from the year 1968. I was born in Notting Hill in London in 1958 which makes me ten years old. My mum and dad weren't born in this country though - they came here from Jamaica in the West Indies a few years before they had me. My dad is a bus driver for London Transport. My mum doesn't really work. She says that when they were my age in Jamaica, they were taught at school that Britain was their mother country - and the Queen was their Queen. They learned about British history, so they were excited to come here to live. Sometimes, though, they aren't so happy. Sometimes I think the English people don't really like us because were black. Some people say we're lazy and don't work but that's not true. My dad works really hard on the buses, and my mum works just as hard looking after me and my sisters, and keeping our house looking nice. My best friend John at school, though, he's different. I like him. He says that underneath we're all the same. It really doesn't matter what colour your skin is. When I grow up I want to be an astronaut. Next year the Americans hope to land men on the moon and that's where I want to go when I'm older. My favourite toy is the Spacehopper. It's orange with ears that you hold on to, and you sit on it and bounce around. It's great fun! Well, it's been nice talking to you. Bye for now!