A Long Way from Home

Growing up in Barbados in humble surroundings as a devout Christian, Una was the oldest of ten children. Living in a small rural village with a simple school, church and local shop, life was poor but easy. Then, one day, a blue airmail letter arrived, addressed to Unas mother. The letter brought a sense of adventure and changed Unas life drastically for the better. John Chandler, a Christian who had once worked with her mother, was writing to invite Una to come to England, get married and start a new life. On her 17th birthday, Una left the West Indies to make her first journey to England, with 2 pounds for a new life in her pocket. Saying goodbye to her parents and other siblings, she arrived at Gatwick airport on 1st November 1961. There, she was greeted by a bright and beaming young man with a friendly smile John. He and Una went on to have 20 years of happy marriage and 6 children. Unfortunately, John developed lung cancer and passed away on 25th December 1982, leaving Una a widow at the age of 38. As life moved on and grief slowly faded, Una went back to adult education college and studied to become a Methodist Local Preacher for eighteen years, she was the only female West Indian Lay Preacher on the Methodist Church Circuit for Reading and Silchester. She is the first female West Indian-born Chaplain at Reading Borough Council, where she also works as a volunteer. This is her story, of courage, faith, determination, hard work and a sense of humour. Life is for living and A Long Way From Home is about making that journey. See more