AGNES McLARDIE April 1938 by her daughter HELEN
My Mum’s name is Agnes. She named me Helen after her friend who she came to England with from her home in Scotland I was a feral child, and I do believe when I consider where I am now spiritually, I was always protected; there were always Angels protecting me. So, I give all thanks and credit to God Almighty for sending those angels to guide me. I am an African. Why? I am an African from my heart, I have always been from being a child– I was an African princess. My maternal Grandfather had very strong morals he was an Orangeman , I know that, and he hated Catholics. Mum said that she used to have really, really long hair and my grandfather used to beat her, you know, because she would sneak out the windows to go dancing. She loved dancing. Mum doesn’t speak about my Grandfather in a very good light. She has spoken vaguely about her Mother and how she would defend her and let her off with certain things. Mum had a brother who she hated, and she had a sister called Jean. I don’t think she ever felt that she was loved as a child, so it was very hard for her to show affection to me. Mum had a child before she left Scotland and she had it adopted, so I have to assume this is why the relationship with her family was the way it was. When I speak to Mum about the son she had adopted - ‘Don’t blinding bother me’. That is Mum’s answer to everything, it’s like she just doesn’t want to revisit her past.
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