Client story: Preserving a remarkable journey across continents

When Sarah first heard about Ethos Books, she was searching for a way to honor her aunt Elsie's remarkable life journey. Born in Jamaica and having lived through historical changes across three continents, Elsie's stories had captivated family gatherings for decades. But at 84, her health was beginning to decline, and Michael worried her extraordinary tales of resilience, immigration, and building a new life in post-war England might be lost forever. The book "Ash on My Skin" became not just a family keepsake but a bridge connecting generations and cultures within their extended family.

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What first gave you the idea to create a book about your aunt Elsie?

It was actually my daughter Maya who sparked the idea. She's studying social history at university and had recorded an interview with Aunt Elsie for a project about the Windrush Generation—Caribbean immigrants who came to Britain after the war. After listening to that recording, I was struck by how much of Elsie's life even I didn't know about, despite growing up hearing her stories.

There was this moment in the interview where Elsie described arriving at Southampton docks in 1955, in the middle of winter, wearing her best cotton dress that had been perfectly appropriate in Kingston but left her freezing in England. The way she described the gray skies, the strange faces, and still walking with her head high—it was powerful. I realized then that we needed to preserve these stories properly, not just for our family but as a piece of living history.

Was Elsie immediately comfortable with the idea of having a book written about her life?

Not at all! [laughs] She's always been quite humble despite having lived such an extraordinary life. Her initial response was, "Who would want to read about an old woman's troubles?" She kept insisting her life wasn't special, that she'd just done what needed doing.

What finally convinced her was when my cousin's children visited during school holidays. They're third-generation British, and they were asking questions about Jamaica and what it was like when she arrived on the Empire Windrush ship with so many others seeking a new life in England. Some of the questions she could answer easily, but for others, she struggled to find the right words to explain concepts from a world that no longer exists. That evening, she called me and said, "Perhaps this book idea isn't so foolish after all."

The title "Ash on My Skin" is quite evocative. Can you share the story behind it?

That came directly from Elsie. During one of her interviews, she described her first job in London, working in a laundry facility where she operated the large coal-fired boilers. She talked about ending each day with ash on her skin, her clothes, even in her hair—but how proud she was to send money back home to her parents in Jamaica.

Over time, it became a metaphor for her larger experience of immigration—the residue left by difficult experiences that you carry with you, that marks you, but also represents your strength and survival. The interviewer from Ethos Books recognized its power immediately and suggested it as the title. When we presented it to Elsie, she got very quiet, then nodded and said, "Yes, that's exactly right."

The cover portrait is beautiful. How did that come about?

The portrait was something we debated for a while. Elsie initially wanted just a simple text cover, nothing with her face on it. She's never been one to put herself forward. But your design team suggested that a portrait would give the book more impact, especially for future generations who might not remember her.

The breakthrough came when we discovered an old photograph of Elsie from the 1970s, standing very dignified in her nurse's uniform—she had retrained as a nurse after her children started school. The portrait artist used that as reference but created something that captured not just her appearance but her essence—that quiet dignity and determination that's carried her through life. When Elsie saw it, she actually cried, which is something I'd never seen her do before. She said, "Is that really how others see me?"

Were there any stories you discovered during this process that surprised you?

So many! One that particularly moved me was learning about her friendship with an English woman named Margaret in the early 1960s. This was a time when many landlords still had "No Blacks, No Irish, No Dogs" signs in their windows. Margaret shared her home with Elsie and later helped her navigate buying her own house when many banks wouldn't even consider giving mortgages to Caribbean immigrants.

I'd never heard about Margaret before, but it turned out they remained friends until Margaret passed away in the 1990s. Elsie had kept all her letters. The book includes photographs of them together that I'd never seen—at civil rights demonstrations, at community events supporting the growing Caribbean community in London, their children playing together. It was a friendship that defied the social norms of the time and helped Elsie feel at home in her new country.

Another revelation was learning that Elsie had actually trained as a teacher in Jamaica but was never able to have those qualifications recognized in England. That's why she ended up working in the laundry initially. Understanding the professional sacrifices she made really put her achievements in a new light.

How did you manage to keep the book a secret until it was ready to be presented?

It was challenging! Especially because we wanted input from various family members who had different pieces of Elsie's story. My approach was to be partially honest—I told Elsie we were collecting family histories for a small project, which wasn't entirely untrue. This allowed me to ask questions and gather materials without raising suspicion.

The hardest part was coordinating with her children, my cousins, who live in different parts of the country. We set up a private messaging group and scheduled calls when we knew Elsie would be at her weekly bridge club. There were some close calls—once, my cousin Sharon was looking through old photo albums with Elsie and almost mentioned the book project!

Can you describe the moment when you presented the finished book to Elsie?

We chose to do it during her 85th birthday celebration. The whole extended family had gathered—four generations in one room. After dinner, while everyone was still seated, I gave a short speech about legacy and the importance of remembering where we came from. Then my two nieces brought out the wrapped book and placed it in front of Elsie.

When she opened it, there was this moment of complete silence. She just stared at the cover, tracing her fingers over the portrait. Then she looked up at all of us gathered around her and said, "So this is what you've all been whispering about!" Everyone laughed, breaking the tension.

What I'll never forget is watching her slowly turn the pages, seeing her life unfold chronologically. She kept pausing to elaborate on certain stories or correct small details. It became an interactive experience, with different family members asking questions or adding their memories. What was meant to be a simple presentation turned into an impromptu three-hour storytelling session.

What impact has the book had on your family since then?

It's become this treasured family resource. For the older generation, it's validated their shared experiences of immigration and building new lives. For the younger ones, it's provided context for understanding their own identities and the sacrifices made for them to have the opportunities they have.

My nephew, who's 15 and was going through a rebellious phase, has completely changed his relationship with Elsie since reading the book. He was particularly affected by the stories of discrimination she faced and how she persevered. He's now recording his own interviews with her, diving deeper into specific aspects of her life.

Most surprisingly, it's impacted our extended community. Elsie shared the book with her church group, many of whom also came to Britain from the Caribbean in the same era. This has sparked a mini-movement of story preservation among their friends. Two other families are now working with Ethos Books on similar projects!

What advice would you give to someone thinking about creating a book like this for a family member?

Start now, not later. We tend to think we have all the time in the world to record these stories, but that's not always the case. Since completing the book, Elsie has had some health challenges that would have made the interview process much more difficult.

Also, involve multiple family members but have one person coordinate. Different perspectives enrich the narrative, but having too many cooks in the kitchen can make the process confusing. We appointed my cousin Rachel as the main contact with Ethos Books, which streamlined communication tremendously.

And finally, understand that this process can bring up complex emotions for everyone involved. Some stories may be difficult to tell or hear. Be prepared for tears, for laughter, for moments of tension when different family members remember the same event differently. But also be prepared for the incredible healing and connection that can come from acknowledging these shared histories.

Creating "Ash on My Skin" has been one of the most meaningful projects our family has ever undertaken. Beyond the beautiful book itself, the process of creating it brought us closer together and gave Elsie the recognition she always deserved but never sought for herself.