Minette couldn't have known when she arrived in Britain from Jamaica that it would be 40 years before she returned to the place of her birth. But last year, accompanied by her daughter Donna, Minette returned. Now back in Britain, their memories of the visit are preserved forever through their holiday snaps.
Raising a young family on her own meant there was little money for holidays and other treats but Minette would have loved to have been able to at least visit the island of her birth. On the other hand, Minette's daughter, Donna, although born in England, has been taking regular holidays in Jamaica in recent years but was never able to persuade her mother to go with her, especially after her mother had a stroke.
Then last October, the Tooting Neighbourhood Centre in South London organised a trip to Jamaica for members of its luncheon club - many of whom, like Minette, had never been back since they came to live here.
This gave Minette, 75 and a member of the club, a chance to return. Daughter Donna accompanied her mother on the two week trip and they brought back with them a pile of photographic memories.
Donna was very pleased to be accompanying her mother. Minette was severely physically disabled by her stroke and Donna didn't think she'd ever get to go back to Jamaica. Donna says, "It was a lifetime's ambition fulfilled". Donna was devastated when Minette had a stroke in 2000. Her mother had been very independent. But she says, "Regardless of physical disability, she has got so much spirit".
 Donna and Minette's first day in Jamaica |
Donna and Minette particularly like this photograph of their first day in the hotel. Donna says her mother looked so happy, she just had to take a picture of her.
