Individual results

Interviewee: Ms Astrid Thomas
Interviewer: Helen Whitcombe

Born in 1970, Trinidad. Lived in Rugby, Ipswich before Coventry. Moved to England aged 21. Came to England to train to be a nurse, sister lived here. Attended Coventry University. Works as Project Co-ordinator, works on training and development projects. First impressions: not as cold as she thought, but a nice place to live.

Track 2
Liked living in Coventry as a student, making friends. Lives in Hillfields now. Quiet, friendly neighbourhood. Sense of community. Not an active member of African-Caribbean community.

Track 3
Getting more involved with community now than used to be. More interested in a wider community than just people from an African-Caribbean background. One of four children, 1 sister, 2 brothers. Parents still in Trinidad. Tries to keep in touch with family. Growing up in Trinidad, healthy childhood, surrounded by family and friends.

Track 4
Thinks childhood in Trinidad was sheltered compared to here. Her English cousins seemed more grown up. Thinks extended family more significant in Trinidad, kids grow up faster over here, Westernised, modern way of thinking. Enjoyed school, normal student, enjoyed extra-curricula activities.

Track 5
At school enjoyed sports. Ambitions - to become a nurse, turned out not to be for her. Good relationship with parents. Parental influence - mother emphasised career, father a teacher, parents as role models. Values. Parents visit her in Coventry, like it.

Track 6
Spare time - with friends/boyfriends, nightclubs. Experience of racism when training as a nurse, being treated differently, felt like she wasn't being given a chance. Importance of a career, future plans.

Track 7
Talks about her current work. Plans to marry, attitude towards marriage. May have children at some point, thinks parenthood would change her life. Would like to stay in Coventry, but may move to further her career. Unsure if she is a Coventry person. Enjoys living here, feels comfortable here. Not British.

Track 8
Sees herself as Trinidadian. Thinks people see her as quiet, trustworthy, hardworking. Hopes to buy her own house. Issues: lack of employment or access to training and stable well-paid jobs. Problems of unstable families. Wants to see more people having access to better paid jobs, training provision.

Track 9
Her own ambitions. Wants to keep in touch with community. Coventry provides more employment opportunities than Trinidad. Misses family closeness of living in Trinidad. Has wider circle of friends there. People happier in Trinidad despite being less well off than here. Feeling misunderstood.

Track 10
People can jump to conclusions, misunderstand here. Different cultures coming together, perceive things in different ways. More interaction may improve this, need to be less segregated. Situation less apparent at university, easier to get on with people.

Coventry Lives Oral History Project, date of birth: 1970