Next Six Days

June 5 - Started at 7:00 o'clock. Missed the cutoff so drove through downtown Macon [GA] in torrential rain. Got to Orlando [FL] a little after six.

June 6 - Went out to Schulke's this p.m. Had a nice visit and a good supper. Peg just out of hospital & hobbling about.

June 7 - Had a boat ride with Merryl around his lake. (Peg has pleurisy) Left about 3 for Miami [FL] & got to Helene's about 7. She insisted we stay there. Ate at the Painted Horse.

Sun.
June 8 - Vince spoke at both services and at Adult Class. Went for a ride along the beaches.

June 9 - Helene took us to Miami airport, from where we had an uneventful but exciting flight to San Juan [PR]. Dr. Nicholson met us. Stayed at Holiday Inn.

June 10 - Arrived in St. Thomas [U.S. Virgin Islands] at 7:45, had breakfast, met Mr. Lutz, were flown to Anguilla [British West Indies] by Mr. Jack Chapman.

Went through Customs and Immigration.

The British seemed unaware that we were coming today, and whoever was in charge couldn't be found.

Jeff Hearst (sp?) finally came and got us and took us to Headquarters, where we met Michelle, a Br. Sect. Mr. Hearst then brought Pat Connor, the dental ass't, to meet us and they took us to the Camora Hotel, our place of residence, owned by Pat's folks. We are the only guests.


Hotel Camora, Anguilla. Photo Credit: Vince Williams.


Hotel Camora (front). Jené's head may be seen peaking out from under the right window. Photo Credit: Vince Williams.

After getting settled, Vince had a nap and then met Mr. Cumber. He also obtained use of a car so with the guidance of Simon Herman [?] we went for a ride to learn the town. The car stalled in

[Continued on next page.]

Evening Invitation

Mon.
June 30 - Letters from Sharon [Asche] & Lillie [Vince's mother]

Took Vince to work again. Took the kids to Sandy Ground again this morning – both Arik & Jené napped this p.m. so didn't work swimming in. Were invited to the Vanier'[s] for the evening – had a nice visit. He is manager of Barclay's Bank. Will be transferring to another island in a couple of months. Claudia is getting all her dentistry done before they leave. Think Vince has convinced Mr. Vanier to do the same. Got home at 11:30 – went to bed by candlelight.

Tues.
July 1 - Wrote Elaine Grimes & Pastor N. [Ness]. Vince wrote Spence.

A quiet day – cloudy and comfortably cool. Had the car but didn't take the kids swimming till Vince was done. Lorna & Pat went along.

Letter from Pam [Verla's sister].

Shoal Bay and Island Harbor

Sat.
July 12 - Dawn went with Pat & Vince to work. Guess they had a busy morning – had 18 extractions. Vanier's came over but went ahead of us to Sandy Ground. We finally got together for a swim. Go home after seven six which was too late to get ready for a party – farewell to Michele. I had to shampoo my hair. Claudia loaned me her hair dryer but it was 220v.

Heard from Mom [Agnes Blakey].

Wrote Heruth's & Menzies.

Sun.
July 13 - We went to church and then had dinner. We went up to Shoal Bay for swimming, snorkeling, & shell hunting. Vince really liked it though the road was pretty bad. He found a beautiful conch shell which we are going to keep for a souvenir. We drove up through Island Harbor on our way home. Saw Pastor Gootch's (sp?) house, also his church and Ronald Webster's home.

A Rainy Day

July 18 – Vince wrote his mother. A rainy day – I kept the car but we didn't use it. The second day we didn't go swimming. Mark & Dawn made up treasure hunts for Pat. She found both of them when she got home.

The lights went out with only a second's warning so we went to bed by lantern light.

Spells fat.

• Breakfast – 8:00
• Orange – 9:30
• Porridge – 10:15
• Lunch – 12:00
• Taste of watermelon
• Cookies & Milk – 2:00
• Supper – 5:15

Sat.
July 19 –  Mark went to the clinic with Vince & Pat. Such a night we had – it poured! A couple of loud thunder cracks. Jené fell out of bed twice. Dawn came in to see if I heard the thunder.

Arik "messed" his pants in hallway.

Mark came in with a pain in his right hip.

The ceiling leaked – dripped on Vince's pillow. As I said, such a night!

Took Lorna & Pat down to Sandy Ground with us for a swim. Vince found starfish but no conch shells. So far we've had no luck preserving starfish.

Got lotsa mail – Sharon, Mom, Groteguts, Stroms, Hoxeng [?], Lippman, Spence, Lillie, Sita, Tim,  Elaine.

Mangoes and Swimming Suits

July 22 – Wrote Sharon before breakfast. Dawn and I took Vince to work. Stopped for gas and oil. And at Library.

Took the kids swimming both forenoon and afternoon. Then we picked up Vince and went again for a short dip. Took Pat, Lorna & Ann along.

Went for a ride to the Clinic after supper to get the mangoes that Weldon Hale [?] had brought in – he's the young fellow that visited with us at the Beach from St. Thomas for last 3 years, has a building, a boat, fishes & earns $50.00 a day.

July 23 – (Today is the sale at Vince's folks' house.) Took Vince to work.

Took the kids swimming both forenoon and afternoon. Arik's old swimming suit literally fell to pieces – he is back to his red one which has holes in the seams.

A[n] English dentist is coming the middle of August for a 3 mos. stay.

We had a letter from Charlotte & Jim. They are in Montgomery and will be stationed in Washington, DC. Heard that Mr. Cumber is leaving and a new commissioner will be arriving.

A Church Program

Fri.
Aug. 1 – Methodist Church.
Took Vince to work. Pat is at her all upset – her uniform didn't fit. She won't appear in that!


Pat Connor in a happy mood. Photo credit: Vince Williams.

Set Dawn's hair.

Went down to the Sea this morning.

Set my hair after lunch. Wrote a letter to Mom. Went to get Vince early & to look for brake fluid. Ended up at the Camp, where the Sarge ga put in fluid for me – he says there is a leak some where.

Went to the Program at church – Very good.

The soloist, the director's daughter, Eleanor [Bynoe] exceptional talent.


Eleanor Bynoe performing at the church concert. Photo credit: Vince Williams.

Sat.
Aug. 2 – Vince went to work; Mark went along.

Got letters from Lillie, Charlotte, Heruth's.

Went down to Sandy Ground for a swim in the late afternoon.

Showers, shampoos, to bed.

Holiday Boat Races

Sun.
Aug. 3 – Send John a card –
Awoke early as usual. Went to church. Vince took pictures of 4 girls – Pat, Lorna, Ann, Earlen.


The four "girls." Photo credit: Vince Williams.

Simon picked us up at 1:30, picked up the 4 girls, took us to Shoal Bay – what a ride! Nice time. When delivering the girls again, some young Anguillan fellow – called them paratrooper-woman, and other derogatory remarks at us whites.

Tomorrow is a holiday – lotsa celebrating!

Mon.
Aug. 4 – National holiday so Vince didn't work. We mostly laid around all day. Walked over to hill to watch the moto sail boat races. Mark & Dawn walked down to Sandy Ground with Pat but were too late to see anything. The hotel has been busy all weekend with as many as 7 more besides us. Took the kids swimming in late afternoon.

[NOTE: August Monday is the first Monday in August, celebrated as a holiday marking the emancipation of the slaves in the former British Caribbean.]

Parties and Gifts

Thurs.
Aug. 7 – Vince took the car today. So the kids entertained themselves around the hotel. Vince & Pat got home about 2:30 – we went to Mead's Bay to watch the boat races, which we don't understand. After a later supper Vince and I went to Vanier's – Dr. & Mrs. Fenwick were as well as 3 English fellows & a worker from the bank. Made it home without running out of gas but we're getting low.

Got an invitation to a party on board the frigate Mohawk on Sat. nite.

Fri.
Aug. 8 – Took Vince to work. Ran out of gas in George Hill. Vince, Pat, Dawn & Mark caught a ride in. Clu [?] came out on a scooter with enough gas to get to Valley. Cashed some Traveler's checks, filled the tank, & came home.

Dawn stayed to help at the Clinic. Took the kids to Sandy Ground. Went back to Clinic - took Vince to airport – He flew to St. Maarten, bought a watch and earrings & flew back.

Walton stopped by & visited in the evening.

Vince said when Lorna opened her gift – she gave him a kiss on the cheek – all thrilled.

Back to Miami

Mon.
Aug. 11 – Start out for Miami.

Rainy yet. Mike came back from St. Thomas at 9:15 or so. We loaded up to head for St. Thomas. Mr. Thompson, Mr. Heman, Mr. Connor, Pat & Lorna came down to see us off.

Got to St. Thomas around 10:45 – not too bad a flight. Boarded Prinair for San Juan; got there at noon. After checking through customs, and getting baggage checked, we had hamburgers & french fries.


Prinair plane. Photo credit: Vince Williams.

Boarded Eastern for Miami at 2:20 and got in at 4:45. Bob met us, picked up luggage, went to Barber's. Good supper, some visiting and off to bed.

Tues.
Aug. 12 – Jené slept poorly – hope she's not getting something. Got on the road about 9:15, heading towards Orlando.

Went to Cape Kennedy. Then to Orlando – kids had a swim. Went to Schulke's.