A Portrait of Pam Davis and Everett Davis

by John Ferguson

Everett Davis arrived in Ipswich in 1957, part of the Windrush generation seeking better opportunities in post-war Britain. He worked at Crane's, the local metal foundry, for over 40 years. Many Caribbean immigrants found employment there during the country's labour shortage. In  the 1970s, Everett helped form the Ipswich Caribbean Cricket Team, whose events and fixtures centred around the ICA. They travelled widely, playing against other teams from Caribbean communities around the country. 

‘The team wasn't just about cricket,’ he explains. ‘It was about our community. It was a way for us to come together, to support each other, and to show the wider community what we were capable of.’

Everett’s daughter Pam recalls playing on the Caribbean Centre’s netball team and participating in beauty contests. ‘I came second once,' she says, smiling. These contests celebrated Caribbean culture and identity, fostering pride among the participants and spectators alike. 

‘We also had cultural nights,’ she adds. ‘We'd have music, dancing, and food from all over the Caribbean. It was a chance for us to share our culture with the wider community, and for them to learn more about us. The women used to be cooking all the time. It was always the mums. Food was always on the go, and we girls were often roped in to help out,’ she says, rolling her eyes at the memory. ‘I remember the smell of curry goat, rice and peas, fried chicken, dumplings, something always on the go.’ 

Pam is optimistic when asked if a new Caribbean Centre would be successful today. ‘Definitely,’ she says. ‘It would be a place to meet, share news, and help those in need. That's what community is all about.’