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I worked long hours and in the late 1940’s - early 50’s the more work you put in and the faster you worked, the more bonus you earned at the end of the week, as I was young, I worked very hard I did not drink alcohol, or smoke.  One day I was encouraged to go to the Hackney Dog Track by a Trinidadian friend, but I paid the price by losing all my wages, and whatever I did win he borrowed and never repaid me.  I never returned to the dog tracks again, I had my fill as far as gambling was concerned it was my first and last time.

The fact I did not gamble, smoke or drink allowed me to save some money, and my ambition in those days was to own a car, so I saved up hard to buy one.  In 1951 I was able to purchase my first car a Morris 6 just after passing my test, it was brand new and I was very proud of it.  As far as I was concerned this was to help me get to work to places like Ponders End, Enfield, and other outlying areas.  What a mistake I made.

I worked as a Woodmachinist in the Woodworking Machining Factories working on the four cutter, and other machines

In those days the only people who went to work in cars were the directors; the workers from the foreman and chargehand down came to work on a bicycle.  Each morning you would see literally hundreds of bikes entering the bike sheds.

This particular  morning I broke the golden rule, I drove my car up early and parked it in the street facing the factory where everyone could see it.  It was unusual to see a brand new gleaming car parked there, and not in the directors car park, it had not been seen before, as not many cars were parked on the street in those days.

Everyone including the management was curious but no one asked anyone in the factory if they knew who owned the car.  I knew the entire factory was looking all day to see who owned the car, but I did not realise how serious it was and what repercussions would follow.

Later that evening I waited in the factory until 6.30pm hoping everyone would have gone home and I could drive my car away, but when I went out, I was shocked to see everyone – even the management - standing around outside to see whose car it was.  I did not think it was important, so I walked over to my car and drove off. 

The following day I returned to work and parked the car in exactly the same place it had been the previous day.  I arrived at my machine and was just about to turn it on when the foreman approached me and asked, Who does the car belong to?’ Its mine, I replied.  Yours?’ Yes,’ I replied, mine.  How can you afford to buy such a car? he asked.  My answer was simple, My friend, I said, I do not drink, nor smoke, and I do not go to the dogs, and you know I am here working sometimes until 10 p.m, so I saved my money because I wanted a car.’ 

He just looked at me and walked away, I could tell he was annoyed.  The following day when I returned to work, he handed me my National Insurance card and P45, and told me I was no longer wanted, and if I can afford to buy a car like that, I could do without working there.

Now I found myself out of work I had been dismissed for no justifiable reason, but as far as he was concerned I was not entitled to the job because I had brought myself a car. 

Buying that car was a whole new ball game.  At that time not many people owned cars, worse of all, I did not know of any black people who possessed one.  It seemed as if I was the only one.