William Chong stands in front of a coal mine soon after arrival in Britain. He was employed there for some years.

Fifty-eight years after having migrated to England from Jamaica, 78-year-old William Chong returned home for the first time to celebrate Independence here.

After decades of yearning to see the island again, his visit in August was facilitated by local companies who sponsored and coordinated his visit. GraceKennedy Limited, the Jamaica Tourist Board, Air Jamaica and the Courtleigh Hotel and Suites came together to make the journey possible.

In London last year, Chong attended a town meeting in which representatives of GraceKennedy were made aware of his great desire to return home. Chong, a golden ager, who has never flown before, was presented with his return ticket from Air Jamaica in July of this year.

It was a great moment of happiness for the retiree who was accompanied by his son, 48-year-old Anton.

An only child

William Chong was born in Jamaica on April 17, 1929 to a Jamaican father and a Panamanian mother. Over 60 years ago, William lived with his parents, a shopkeeper and housewife, at 38 Long Mountain Road (what is now called Mountain View Avenue). Growing up an only child, he and his friends would ride all over the city on bicycles.

He recalls his childhood friends as Chubby and Junior Garvey, (both sons of National Hero Marcus Garvey and Amy Jacques Garvey).

In 1948, at age of 19, Chong decided to travel abroad and left Jamaica for Britain in response to an advertisement which appeared in The Gleaner enticing Jamaicans to journey to the "mother country" on the Empire Windrush, for the princely sum of £28.

The ship set sail on May 23, 1948, taking him and over 400 other passengers to England. When Chong arrived in the United Kingdom he spent his first night at the Clapham Common Deep shelter with 236 other settlers.

Soon after, he travelled to the Welsh Valley to work in the coal mines. He worked for one year as a Bevin boy (young men conscripted to work in the coal mines) in the wells. He also worked at worksop main colliery and welbeck colliery for about 10 years.

Chong moved to Nottingham shortly before the race riots to start a family with his Italian wife Doreen. The couple has two sons, Anton, 48, and Keith, 45. In June 2000, Chong and his family moved to Tuntum Housing Association and have been residing there ever since.

During retirement, William Chong has been very active in representing his community, appearing for the tenants of the Tuntum Housing Association at tenant forums. He also serves on the board of the local hospital and up until a few years ago, he used to organise cricket games for the local children.

But, he always dreamed of returning to Jamaica one day, something which he has never been able to do on his own.

Although he has not been back since, he maintains many Jamaican traditions including that of enjoying rice, and peas and chicken for his dinner every Sunday.

Mr. Chong, accompanied by Anton, arrived in the island on the day before Emancipation Day and spent one wonderful week of meeting Jamaican leaders, visiting attractions and revisiting the places of his childhood.

Documentary on his visit

He was accompanied by a team from the BBC which will be producing a short documentary on his visit.

He met Governor-General, Kenneth Hall; Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller and several government ministers. He also visited Devon House in Kingston, the Dolphin Cove and Dunns River Falls in Ocho Rios and Milk River Bath in Clarendon.

In St. Ann, Chong stopped at Faith's Pen, and also enjoyed the Denbigh agricultural show on Independence Day in Clarendon.

Along with his son, the retiree attended Mello-Go-Round, one of the activities for the Independence celebrations, and was at King's House for the Independence Day parade. Chong also toured the area where he once lived, including church - Holy Rosary - and school - Windward Road Primary and Junior High - which he attended.

Mr. Chong told Outlook: " All Jamaicans, no matter where they live have a piece of Jamaica in their hearts, so I have always and will always have a pull to come back. Everyone has made it so special for me! I have done more this week than I would have if I had spent a lifetime in Jamaica. I got to meet the Governor-General, The Prime Minister, and several Ministers of Government. It was a real honour."

Away for 58 years, he wanted to see, he said, what it was like after so many years. "I had a lot of memories of growing up and I was looking forward to see my home again."

On the day of his departure, William Chong said, "a lot has changed. Jamaica is very different now. I have noticed one contrast to the next. In New Kingston was a race track when I left and now it is the heart of the business sector. The highway to May Pen is great. however, places like Milk River are not getting the attention they need."

The retiree said he feels that the business climate in Jamaica is very good. "GraceKennedy is a great company and obviously cares about people and not just making a profit. They made me feel like a king!"

What Chong most enjoyed during his visit, however was Independence celebrations: "It was out of this world, it was as if I was in England because it was such a high standard - it was outstanding! I enjoyed going to Mello-go Round and to the celebrations at King's House," he told Outlook.

His return visit was a short one, but for William Chong it was worth the trip. His wife has not been to Jamaica and so the couple are thinking of coming together one day soon.

Avia Ustanny