Victor

In 1954 Victor came from Barbados to the UK on the 'SS Columbia.' He was just 20 years old.

It was tough being black in Britain back then. He'd turn up to a job interview and would be told, "The job has gone." He heard one of his prospective employers say, "Why'd d'you send him here? You didn't tell me he was black."

Eventually, Victor got a job as a carpenter, but not long after, he was called up for National Service and sent to Cyprus, where he served as a medical orderly.

After returning to England, he continued to work as a carpenter and saved up enough to buy a house close to Wandsworth Common in South London. Back in the early 60s, homes were cheap in the area. One of his new neighbours said nobody wanted to live in Wandsworth. 'The snooty-nosed people want to get through it as quick as possible on their way from the city to their country houses.'

According to Victor, Wandsworth is the best part of London - it has the most hospitals, the most schools and the best railway station, saying, 'you can get anywhere from Clapham Junction.' He added that Wandsworth has the only reference library in the UK that opens on a Sunday. Victor used to enjoy reading, but his real passion was dancing. He loved ballroom and did lessons at a dance school in New Cross. He'd do the Waltz, the Tango, the Rumba, the Foxtrot and the Pasodoble and can still remember some of the moves.

Víctor is now 88 and confessed that lately, he's got lazy, just sitting around the house and not going out much. He told me he has spine cancer and gets a regular chemotherapy injection in St Georges hospital. I said the treatment must be exhausting, and it's not surprising that he isn't doing much. He replied not at all; 'The chemo doesn't affect me; I was just being lazy,' He added, "My sons quarrel with me. They say I have to stay active."

So Victor has started doing his regular walks again. He walks across Wandsworth Common to the railway bridge and back. He takes it slow and kindly stopped for a few minutes to let me take this shot.