“I feel as though I have
accomplished a lot this year, thanks to you and
your dad; I read a whole book that actually inspired me to become a
writer myself. I know I am a long way from being published but never
again will I be intimidated by the cover or size of a book - not as
long as I shall live. Yvonne, I have been told
by countless individuals that I should write a
book about my life and now, when I tell friends and families of my
desire to actually start writing, they all wish me well and want to
know when they will be able to read about my secrets. Many talk of
writing themselves in the future; my hope is that my efforts and
honesty will inspire them - just as you and your Father have inspired
me.”
Cyril
Husbands
(Poet
and Diversity Consultant)
“Mr Archer,
You are an inspiration
and a genuine hero in a time when these are
sorely needed and in short supply. Blessings to you, sir!”
Juanita,
visitor attending an event
“It is good to know there
are Black men like you. Thank you for your
story.”
Veronica,
visitor
attending an event
“It is a pleasure to see
that someone like you has done so much for our
generation and to write a book, which I appreciate very much. We need
more about our Black history, especially our Jamaican heritage. My
sister was the first Black teacher that came to Birmingham, England in
the 1950s and my grandfather was an Irish flyer. Also, my dad was a
also in the war. Now, my grandson is a guard at Buckingham Palace.”
Ann
Gumbs, single mother of 4,
visitor attending an event
“I am going to read page
137 first. I so love to get first-hand
information on how to raise our children born in England. I realise
that the old traditional ways our parents brought us up was the best
advice that we need today, which is so precious now. So a big ‘thank
you’ to you and Yvonne for taking the time to remind us how we should
bring our children up.”
Anonymous
message,
visitor
attending an event
“Dear Maas Roy,
It’s great to know that
there are people like you and your daughter who
are keeping our history going. We need to keep it alive for the
generation that’s coming up!”
Irina Staneva, Head
of Student Support
Working Men's College
“On
behalf of the
college
and the students I would like to thank you for a wonderful session and
truly mesmerizing presentation! Many of my colleagues commented that it
was obvious you were a teacher because you were able to connect with
the learners and engage them not only with the story itself but with
the way you spoke. The description of your father’s life in Jamaica,
his move to London and then his army life in Cyprus, struck a cord with
a vast majority of our ESOL students who have gone through similar
experiences themselves. At the same time your amusing description of
London life in the 50s and 60s was very informative to everyone who’s
only familiar with London as it is today.
Here
is what one
of my
colleagues who comes from Eritrea and works as an administrator at
college, said: “Yvonne was incredibly good interacting with students
being an Esol teacher herself. I liked the fact that she wrote a book
about an important figure in her life, her father. Again it was
inspiring and left me feeling like I could one day pay homage to my
parents in the same way Yvonne Archer did, picking up pen and paper. “
Once
again, I
truly and
thoroughly enjoyed working with you on this project and sincerely hope
that we will continue to work together. It will be fantastic to see you
next Thursday evening. We definitely need to keep in touch."
Yvonne talking to ESOL
students during an event at the
Working Men's College, 10th November 2010
Photo
by
staff at
the Working Men's College
Working
Men's
College,
Student of the Year, Roger Hamilton is pictured beside Yvonne
Photo
by
Glen Hibbert
Hai Le, BBC Vietnamese
Service – message sent 06.20am Check
the page !
“Hi
Yvonne
This is my private email because I'm still at home. I've started to
read your father's story on the tube and cannot get away from it. Just
finish…”
Joanne Ainger, Information Officer,
London Borough of Tower Hamlets
“HI
Yvonne
Just wanted to say what a wonderful and enlightening seminar it was
yesterday and I'm so glad that I came to hear your father's story -
thanks for sharing it with us :).
I'd really like Daniel to meet you and your Dad as you are both so
inspirational and I like him to meet positive role models. I
could really relate to what you were saying in your seminar about the
young people and funnily enough I have discussed this before with
my partner in that there are not enough positive role models promoted
to young people, especially boys. You hear a lot about
footballers and singers, but for many it's not a very realistic
aspiration, as only a (very) small percentage actually succeed in these
areas. That's why it's nice to hear about people who have
succeeded in other walks of life.
I commend people like you and your father who are trying to help
others. I liked what you said as well that even if you’re ok,
it’s in your interests to ensure everyone else is ok, as it's for the
good of everyone :). We studied something quite similar in
economics about how the environment is sustained by communities as they
all help each other. Sorry just a digression, but thanks once
again.”
Margot Montague, Development Design and
Conservation Team, London Borough of Tower Hamlets
“Dear
Yvonne
Thank you so much for sharing your father with us. It was extremely
selfless and a true gift. I thoroughly enjoyed the lunch time session.
He reminded me of when I was growing up in the West Indies and we would
sit on the veranda with my grandmother, now sadly departed, and she
would tell us stories of Ananci spider and of her growing up in
Trinidad, not as exciting as the life your father has lived but
fascinating none the less. When these old people are gone then we truly
miss the meaning of life. I can only hope that we have the same
privilege of sharing our life in England with our offspring. I could
question him (Maas Roy) all day; I am sure he would grow tired of me
but I am sure he enjoys telling his story as well and you have a rich
tapestry to pass on to your children and all those you meet along the
way.
Safe journey back to your dad. He is a true West Indian. I hope he
lives for many, many more years and I have the privilege of meeting him
again.
I went to every event held at the Council office last year and
had criticism of them all but this one touched the spot as none
ever had Possibly because your dad reminded me of home. I was born in
Trinidad. We like to think that we are Jamaicans, Bajans, Trinis
etc but ultimately we are all the same.”
Postage within UK included!
Jeffrey Beckford, a ‘non-reader’
“I
read
the foreword
yesterday
and I read
the whole book today!”
Maas Roy with Aunt Ruby and her son Jeffrey
Photo by
Small
Fry Stills
Lorna Jackson, Small Fry Stills & Films
“Just
listening to you
sharing
your
brilliant ideas!” (response to Genesis Radio interview)
Christine Bramble, Magazine Editor/Writer
“What
a
fantastic
inspiring
evening…. You
must be so proud of each other”
Michaela Alfred-Kamara, Anti-Slavery
International
“Lovely
nite last night.
It’s
super to
know you and your dad – truly inspirational human beings.”
Michaela
(R and
wearing a hat)
has her copy of
the book
signed by Maas Roy
Photo by
Small
Fry Stills
Colin Grant, Author/BBC Broadcaster
“It's
been fun
being in
the same room with my mum as she's been reading Life According to
Maas Roy. There are a lot of 'that's right and 'aahumms' coming
from her direction.”
*Meg Phillip, Author “Love by Text”
“Morning
Yvonne,
If you did ever see the land speed I broke to get there (Waterstone’s
reading). Batter-batter wid did bus an de tube, go to de wrong
shop den leg it dung Upper St! I was slightly breathless
when I arrived but I made it and it hadn't even started yet!
I really enjoyed it. I mean really, really enjoyed it. It
was very inspirational, educational and fun; which makes all the
difference.”
Pete Spence, Musician, South of France
“I've
read four chapters
so far
and I
feel like I'm right there with him, I like the 'chatty' style, I've
laughed a lot reading it.”
J.E.Philip “Michelle”
Wow,
10
Oct 2009 (Amazon.com)
“An absolutely
fantastic read; so good I finished it in less than a day.
It was very informative, educational, inspiring and oh my god! It's one
of those books I'll read repeatedly and never grow tired of. Well
done!"
