Reference No: OH049 Interviewee: Surname Hinds Given name Donald

Date of Birth 1934

Length of recording: [01.08.18] Date of recording: 1 August 1994

Track 1 of 2 [00.46.00]

Donald Hinds (DH) born in Kingston, Jamaica. Recalls coming from a poor farming family background [00.02.19]. Describes his elementary school education and mentions preparing for the Jamaica local examinations [00.03.43]. Reflects that his ambitions were teaching and writing. DH came to England aged 21 [00.07.30]. Remembers writing about his journey on a ship to England (as yet unpublished). DH becomes a Transport bus conductor based a garage. Recollects that on his bus going through Brixton, Theo Campbell (TC) the owner of the first black record shop in London came on the bus and sold him a paper called the West Indian Gazette. DH mentioned to TC that he was a writer and so was introduced by TC to (CJ) the editor of the West Indian Gazette [00.08.54]. Recalls being a contributor to the West Indian Gazette from 1958-64. Describes his friendship with another West Indian writer, the late Ken Kelly [00.12.24]. DH describes his broadcasts from Bush House for the BBC Caribbean service. Notes that he was paid £5.25 per broadcast. DH recalls that between1963-1973 he produced four novels and a play and ‘Journey to an Illusion’ which was published [00.13.50]. Recalls his first encounter with a library in Mandeville, Jamaica. DH remembers that being unable to find a job he read 104 books. Gives examples of the books he read and how many of the authors, especially West Indian writers, influenced his subsequent writing [00.22.00]. Describes how he became London Transport (LT) ‘black bus conductor No. 5’ at Brixton garage aged 21 in 1955. Explains that working on the buses enabled him to observe society in general. Remembers some of his former LT colleagues on the buses who left LT to pursue successful careers. Note that he felt working for LT was a dead end and left in 1965 after 9.5 years to write ‘Journey to an Illusion’ [00.29.00]. Remembers being sent to interview the famous author James Baldwin for the West Indian Gazette and being introduced to journalist Bill Wetherby, and Laurence Dobie of the Observer. Mentions writing an article for the Observer about local school children in 1964. Notes that he was paid £40 for article and his weekly wage from LT was £13. Recollects receiving a letter from a literary agent who had read DH’s article and thought it had potential for a book. Recalls visiting the agent with a synopsis and opening chapter of his draft book ‘Journey to an Illusion’ [00.34.31]. DH outlines the background to his book being published by Heinemann. Explains that he believes that the way it was launched made ‘Journey to an Illusion’ appeal to a limited academic audience. Describes resigning from LT to pursue his writing career. Notes that he had obtained some “O” levels and applied unsuccessfully for a transfer to LT HQ because the shift work made it difficult for him to attend evening classes regularly. Believes that racism may

have played a part in his rejection and gives his views on racism today [00.43.00]. Describes his free time activities whilst working for LT including playing cricket for LT garages and working on his first novel.

End of track A [00.46.00]

Track 2 of 2 [00.22.18]

DH describes reaction to his book in Jamaica. Recalls famous West Indian people he met through his writing for West Indian Gazette. Remembers that he got on well with his colleagues on the buses but that there was a somewhat condescending attitude of LT to West Indian staff. Notes that he was not surprised by the racism and gives an example of an incident that made him angry [00.09.30]. Explains that his expectations were not fulfilled when he came to the UK in 1955. Notes there was still a class war in the 1950s and that he was not used to seeing white people doing menial jobs. Recalls his surprise that football was a more popular game than cricket in the UK [00.13.15]. Expresses the view that he did not consider himself a pioneer writer but was a pioneer the on buses in 1955. Describes changes in LT staff over the past thirty years and is pleased to see that LT now has black inspectors. Mentions his three visits to the Caribbean and notes that he still belongs to Caribbean. Concludes by saying that he enjoys being a teacher and plans keep on teaching.

End of track B [00.22.18]

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