About the book
Ten years after the Second World War, England is broken and labour shortages threaten its recovery. The UK government reaches out to the West Indies. Thousands of men, women and children arrive during the 1950s. They are known as the 'Windrush' generation.
A chance meeting in Derbyshire changes the lives of Vincent and Agatha. They marry and build a life that is a far cry from their native country of Jamaica. With better job opportunities in Bristol, they move to the inner city and raise six children.
Cutie is their youngest child. She is a free-spirited, headstrong tomboy with an innate passion for nature and the outdoors. Cutie finds solace in her favourite play space and shares a summer of unimaginable adventures there with her best friend Paulette.
The 1980s sees the political uprising of inner cities across the country. A new generation is dawning and Cutie and her friends find themselves in the thick of it. Confronted with a previously forgotten, deep-rooted memory of her past, Cutie is desperate to keep her demons buried.
At eighteen, Cutie leaves home and enjoys her newfound freedom. Then, a life-altering incident stops her in her tracks. A year later, a chance encounter with a man changes everything forever.
BRISTOL 1974
This is me, Cutie, at 10 years old, filmed wearing the floppy hat. The front cover is taken from stills filmed at Felix Road Adventure Playground, which is my charity. I have permission from Bristol University, whom I acknowledge in my book.
Click below to watch.
(You may need to enable sound)
Click the speaker icon to enable sound