I was introduced to Monica and Clifford by mutual friends I think Syd and Liz Doyle. I put my name down as a volunteer for the Zong Project in London. I was involved with the public when they first arrived. We booked them into groups of 50 and while they were waiting for some of the team to escort them down to the ship, we explained to the public what was going to happen, and to prepare them for the distressing diagrams and pictures also health and safety information. After being on the ship for half an hour they were then escorted off the ship and taken to the main exhibition area.
The subject of slavery caused many emotional reactions and I don't think there was one of us during the week that did not shed tears at some point. We were asked to keep an eye open for anyone who was struggling and to hand them to the group leader. We had certain volunteer leaders from the various churches who then took on this role of counselling.
On the opening day of the exhibition we had many African and Caribbean guests from the various embassies and London politicians. I was escorting a wonderful lady ambassador unfortunately, some of these lovely ladies are rather large and she could not go up the winding stairs to the only available toilet, so I was asked to take her to McDonalds which was actual on part of the quay facing the river, As I was waiting for her to appear again, 'Baroness Cox' came up to me with an obviously important guest to ask me whether I could escort them to the exhibition. I had to explain to her what I was doing and she laughed encouraged me and said, just give me directions!! It was this type of camaraderie that was such a blessing throughout the whole week amongst all the volunteers.
I was surprised to learn of the animosity between African and Caribbean descendants of the slave trader and this was an area close to Clifford and Monica's heart. The church service at the close of the exhibition was a wonderful time of communication, reconciliation and healing.