Marion Gardner was born in Montpelier Hanover in 1909, her mother Mavis whom they called Becca (Rebecca), had three other siblings. Marion’s mother died when she was very young, and due to this Marion had to go and live with several relatives in Hanover. Marion unfortunately, was not treated very well and decided to leave Hanover on a banana boat going to Kingston.
Marion Gardner had 5 children Kenneth Brown, Euriah (Roy) White, Mavis Malcolm, Cynthia Malcolm and Earl Euwatt
At the age of 42 Marion moved to England, firstly living in London in Seven Sisters Street, due to the lack of accommodation in London moved to Dudley, and then eventually settled in Wolverhampton. Marion was an entrepreneur and saw an opportunity to help her fellow Hanoverians who was on exodus to England during the 50’s and 60’s. Marion rented 32 and 33 Lea Road Pennfields, which belonged to a gentleman called Mr Carue, who lived in Kingswinford. (The properties were supposedly used as a maternity home during the Second World War. Marion also had properties in116 Waterloo Road and 2 Bishop Street which she owned outright. Marion married a Mr. McIntosh at Darlington Street Church in 1954.
Lea Road became well known not only in Wolverhampton but in Hanover Jamaica. They called it ‘the house that you would not be turned away from’. To ensure that she did not turn anyone away, Marion would make up beds even in the dining room areas. Mrs. Mavis Malcolm her daughter, recalled that at Lea Road in the attics there would be three to four beds. Large rooms would be divided into two sections, where possibly two families may live. Rooms in the 50’s and 60’s were very hard to come by. Many White European homes had notices stating ‘No Blacks, No Irish, No Dogs’. Rent for these accommodation would be the equivalent today of £2.50 in some places it would be half a crown 2 shillings and sixpence (22p). Often you would rent a bed and not a room.
Mrs. Malcolm recalled that many of her mother’s tenants worked at C & B Smith (Foundry), ‘The Graveyard’ this was so called because firstly you would work 12 hours shifts 7am - 7pm, and then the night shift would start at 7.00pm and finish 7am. Those who were on night shift their beds would be utilised by the day shift and so on. So it was not surprising to find that your bed was still warm when you got into it. Many people also died in the foundry
She reflected of the community spirit that permeated through Lea Road. She stated that if some of the tenants did not have wives to cook for them Marion would cook a hot meal at a cost.
The rooms were heated by paraffin lamps which often blew up or created a lot of soot. Many people died through carbon monoxide poisoning because of the paraffin lamps. There were no luxuries like central heating.
Mrs. Malcolm stated that her mother in today’s society would be seen as a bad landlady for creating over crowding, because at any given time there could be over 50 people in the two houses. What she provided was a service that was badly needed. English society as it was did not see black people as human beings, who’s needs were the same as those of white people that shelter was a basic need. If Marion Gardner did not use her entrepreneurial skills, many would have had to sleep in parks, doorways, during those very harsh winters of the 50’s and 60’s. So I suppose the question would be asked entrepreneur or exploiter. When you way up the facts the alternative would be to sleep rough. Through having a roof over their heads they were able to safe monies to purchase their own homes, and support the families that they left in the Caribbean.
Marion moved to America were she died of pneumonia in 1988 aged 79
So why does the Hanover & Wolverhampton Project wish to give recognition to this lady. Marion Gardner was instrumental in helping hundreds of Hanoverians settle in Wolverhampton. She supported them to find employment, and contributed to the very strong Hanoverian presence that we find in Wolverhampton today. We see Marion as a local hero, one of the bedrocks to this City we call Wolverhampton. She contributed to the infrastructure of Wolverhampton.
With thanks to:
Source:
Keptreene Finch
Interview of Mrs. Mavis Malcolm – Daughter of Marion Gardner McIntosh
16th August 2013
