I've lived in Stoke-on-Trent all my life. It's changed a lot over the years and it's become a lot more multi-cultural.

I remember when the first West Indian families started to move into my neighbourhood. We all got on well together. We were all in the same boat, working together in places like the Michelin and the pits. I worked in the electrical trade and met lots of people from different nationalities through that.

I've always been interested in different cultures. I like learning about how people live in different countries.

I found West Indian culture very colourful. Their way of life seemed ot be all about sticking together and giving their children the chances they wouldn't have had in Jamaica.

I've been retired now for 16 years and last year I was telling my neighbour that I'd started to get a bit bored at home. So she asked me if I'd like to go to the Hibiscus group at Cobridge Community centre.

I took the first steps and went along to see what it was like.

I was a bit nervous, but everyone was so friendly and it wasn't long before I settled down and started taking part in everything that was going on.

We do things like playing the bongo drums and other instruments. The Hibiscus group is mainly a West Indian group, but anyone can go along.

I always look forward to going. I've never missed a week.

I've always been interested in the West Indies, so listening to people at the Hibiscus group was interesting for me. I sometimes feel like I have been to the West Indies myself, I've heard so much about it.

I've made a lot of friends while I've been there, which if I'd have been staying at home I'd never have met.