Jeanette
Transcript
Interviewer: Can you tell us your name?
Jeanette: Jeanette Lee.
Interviewer: Your age?
Jeanette: 71.
Interviewer: How long have you been a resident of Newham?
Jeanette: Actually, I live in West Finchley.
Interviewer: Okay. Did you move to Newham?
Jeanette: No, because the center is there, so that’s why I go there.
Interviewer: So, you travel to Newham for Chinese and dance classes?
Jeanette: Yes.
Interviewer: How long have you been coming to Newham for this?
Jeanette: Before the COVID-19 and after. On and off. Because our center doesn’t have a permanent address, we rent a place for our activities. That’s why recently, the place we rented before this place, there was something wrong with the electricity, so that’s why we had to move to St. John’s church for a few months. But another two, and we’ll move back to the old place.
Interviewer: And this church is in Newham?
Jeanette: Yes.
Interviewer: So, what would you like to see for the future of Newham?
Jeanette: The government have funding for some activities. So, it’s very good for the people who don’t have another place to go to come to the center to use it for daily activities. So, that’s very good.
Interviewer: So, you find there is a community here where you can come to?
Jeanette: Yes, yes.
Interviewer: So, have you got any special memories of Newham, when you come in?
Jeanette: I came to Newham about four years ago, and I think the environment is much better now compared with four years ago. I like it. That’s why I go so far. It takes me about one and a half hours one-way. That is a lot of time, but I like it.
Interviewer: What does Newham mean to you?
Jeanette: If they put more activities, more suitable for me, then I would like to come to Newham more often. But so far, I go to the market, shopping in the local supermarkets. Sometimes I do my shopping there as well.
Interviewer: That sounds really positive.
Jeanette: Yes.
Interviewer: So, how are you celebrating the Platinum Jubilee?
Jeanette: Everywhere they have street parties, even where I live. So, I will join the local ones, or I will go to Newham, because my friends say there are street parties there as well. So, hopefully we will have a good time, and the weather is good as well. It’s very exciting, isn’t it?
Interviewer: Yes, definitely. So, it’s interesting, because even though you live far away, you have a special connection to Newham. Am I correct?
Jeanette: Correct. Actually, in my local area we have a Chinese community, but whoever runs the community, they don’t have the passion, compared with Newham. So, that’s why me and my husband both go there.
Interviewer: That sounds great.
Jeanette: They really put their heart into running this community, and they’re very friendly. That’s why we like to go there.
Interviewer: That’s really special. So, have you celebrated any previous jubilees or royal events, like weddings for example?
Jeanette: Yes. I think in 2000. I was working in the SoHo Chinese community. I’m a [07:28 inaudible] in Soho Nursery. So, we had a very big event there, in our center.
Interviewer: Can you recall which event it was?
Jeanette: The year 2000.
Interviewer: And where was this?
Jeanette: In the Soho area. Personally, I even went to Millenium Dome. we have some photographs there as well. We took some pictures. And here was an exhibition there as well.
Interviewer: Do you have any memories of the queen or the royal family?
Jeanette: Yes. It’s very precious that we have a royal family. In the world maybe there are one or two, yeah? The queen is the head of our state. So, we have respect for her and her family.
Interviewer: So, what does it mean to be celebrating the first Platinum Jubilee?
Jeanette: I think it’s very rare that whoever is head of state can celebrate such a long dynasty. So, we are really happy to be a part of the celebration. I hope the queen will get stronger and stronger.
Interviewer: Is there anything that I didn’t ask that you maybe want to talk about?
Jeanette: I think the Chinese community, we don’t have much resources. Running activities is very costly. So, the government or the local government can provide more funding for us, I think it would be very beneficial for us. That is my wish.
