Water Under the Bridge

This is part two of the autobiography of Pamela Jean Heyman a Kentish girl who grew up in the period before during and after the Second World War and went on to migrate to Nigeria in search of interest and excitement. It covers the period of departure from Heathrow in February 1956 to her departure from West Africa just before Christmas 1965.The story of Jean's Later Years started with her first tour of eighteen months - having been accepted through Crown Agencies UK as a secretary for the Federal Government of Nigeria in the capital Lagos. As a placement secretary Jean eventually worked in the Ministry of Transport having occasion to meet with Minister Abubakar Tafewa Balewa who was to become the first Prime Minister of Nigeria. Agreeing to stay in Nigeria with the Establishment's Secretory because of engagement to Sion who worked for Elder Dempster Agencies in West Africa on the operations side Jean's posting to the Cameroons was given by chance to Jean's close friend of Kent Joy. Jean resigned from Government after one year of service to marry Sion who was near the end of his second tour lasting about twelve to fifteen months and returning to his family home in Hawarden Cheshire for a leave period of about three months. On 4th May 1957 after meeting friends and relatives Jean and John (Sion) were married in Ashford Kent.The subsequent years up to 1965 recount the experiences and times of Jean as a married woman giving birth to two children while accompanying her husband John through his six tours and the independence and Africanisation of West African countries.