By Barbara Ellington, Features Co-ordinator 
Beverley East - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
One of the tragic incidents that impacted the life of many Jamaicans 45 years ago, was the September 1957 Kendal train crash. Even today, stories are still told throughout Manchester about cab drivers who picked up passengers in the months following the crash only to arrive at their destination and discover they had been carrying a "Kendal crash duppy" who had mysteriously, disappeared along the way.
Graphologist/author Beverley East, is the daughter of the late Aaron East who lost 14 members of his family in the crash. Ms. East, a Jamaican who has spent most of her life in England and the United States, is currently in Jamaica for one year to do research in preparation for a book she plans to write about the crash.
"I have been wanting to write this book for 20 years", she told The Sunday Gleaner in an interview. "My father lost both of his parents, aunts, cousins as well as his best friend and their family," Ms. East said. She added that her father was also supposed to be on the train but his younger sister was ill and being the eldest, he was asked to stay at home with her. Two other sisters also stayed with him and the four subsequently became the only survivors of his immediate family.
The irony, however, is that the surviving East family members are reluctant to speak about the crash. East revealed that as a child she grew up afraid of trains and didn't know why; her late father also would not allow any two members of his family to travel together.
"For several years after the event, he'd always split them up and sent them separately," she said.
Hoping the book will be cathartic for the remaining members of her family, East has set herself a target of two years to complete the Kendal crash story. She intends to use the incident to write a fictional work in which one of the survivors goes on to make a life in England.
"One of the underlying themes of the book will be how we (Jamaicans), overcome as a people," East said. The author of Finding Mr. Write, a Random House publication, Ms. East has a two-book deal with the publishing house and the first book is currently being negotiated for a game show in Britain. See website at: www.writeanaly--sis.com.
Who is Beverley East?
At age 47, Beverley East has made the often dreaded career change. Already armed with degrees in communications and business management, gave up a well-paid job and went back to college to do a masters degree in Graphology. Today, she is one of an elite group of document examiners giving her expert take on wills, forged cheques, birth certificates etc. The former head-hunter said the decision to become a graphologist came when she had her own handwriting analysed.
The former head-hunter said, "The results were startling, everything the analyst said was me. I had so many questions she analyser suggested that I study it. My mother was not pleased with my decision to quit my job but it proved helpful when I began using it to match people with jobs". The degree in graphology led to the setting up of her company "Strokes and Slants" and during Black History month this year, she was among five African American women honoured by Flori Roberts Cosmetics with her own line of products.
"I was chosen as a woman of achievement because they had researched and could not find another woman working simultaneously as a hand-writing expert and qualified document examiner. Part of the honour was the development of a lipstick, blusher and eye-shadow in my honour."
To her credit, East has conducted lectures on the handwriting of the ransom note written in the JonBenet Ramsey murder case. Her views on that note include the fact that it was dictated. During the recent anthrax scare, East was asked to analyse the letters. Following the September 11 terrorist attacks, she was called in to assess thousands of false documents claiming compensation for dead relatives. She also worked recently on verifying documents bearing the signature of the Mayor of Washington D.C.
A large part of her work has come from couples (but women in particular) who want to ascertain whether they have made the right choice in a marital partner.
"No matter what secrets you try to hide, your handwriting will reveal the truth," East asserts. She continues to analyse handwriting for the curious but warns that it may be too late to change your mind if you are about to walk down the aisle.
She maintains - for the sceptics - that her analysis have been over 90 per cent accurate and has been requested to conduct seminars in career transition, overcoming fear that hinders personal progress and finding the right mate.
For the next 11 months, East hopes she will be able to flesh out the characters from the Kendal crash that began coming alive and speaking to her, during a business trip to Hawaii. "I have come home to write a story that I wanted to write for 20 years".
