By Hilda Mainprize
My mother, Aina Okolo was born in Nigeria in 1944. She is the matriarch of the Mainprize – Wheeler families and became well known in Hull. Her immediate family comprises thirty members. This is our story.
Aina's father was called Michael Okolo and her mother was called Paulina. He signed his name with a thumb print and was therefore probably not literate. My mother Aina met my father George Albert Mainprize in a club in Nigeria in 1958. He was a seaman and would often travel across the world and visit Africa. George was born in Hull in 1915 and his father was John William and mother Annie (nee Harrison) who herself was of mixed heritage. Despite the age difference between my parents Aina and George, the Okolo family consented to the relationship and in 1959 in Lagos, Nigeria, came the birth of their first child, my eldest sister, Anne. I was their second child. They named me Hilda, and I was born in 1960 followed by my brother Tommy in 1963. My parents married on 11 February 1964 witnessed by my mother's father Michael, and my mother gained her British nationality soon afterwards. By November 1964 my parents had decided to come back to England. They lived in Hull where a mere four weeks later, my brother Charlie was born.
Shortly after setting up home in Hull a chance accident happened when a neighbour's son smashed a window when playing football: an incident that was to change our lives. An offer was made by a friend of a friend to mend the window and this led to the introduction of my mother to Harry Wheeler. My mother Aina eventually left my father whilst he was on one of his regular six month's trips at sea and moved with Harry, myself, and my three other siblings to Sheffield. My father George had not been aware of these plans and returned to Hull not knowing where we had moved to. My mother Aina and Harry co-habited, and from that union came my two sisters Dianne and Vicky, who were both born in Sheffield.
We left Sheffield and returned to Hull, living in Coltman Street where my mother Aina continues to live today. Thereafter four other children were born at Hedon Road Hospital: Tony in 1969, followed by Harry, Mark and Queeni (named Paulina). Sadly my mother Aina and Harry lost a further four children in infancy. Racist attitudes were initially prevalent towards us. For example my mother and Harry were once asked to leave a pub. However, because of their resilient personalities and exceptionally large family, we became well known in the city. Harry had had a career in the RAF but later became a decorator and lorry driver. He was much loved by the family and his popularity extended widely to the extent that when he died at the age of 57 in October 1995, the police had to assist due to the fact that there were hundreds of mourners. By coincidence, my father George, birth father to myself Ann, Tommy and Charlie died two weeks later. |
My first school was on Chilton Street (the same street that I later discovered my paternal grandmother who I had never met also lived). I was there until the age of eleven and then went on to Sidney Smith School. In 1977 at the age of sixteen, I managed to trace my natural father George through his maintenance payment records by which time he was living in Southampton. However soon after, he returned to his birth town of Hull. Although George remained in Hull my relationship with him soured and I became estranged to him once again.
As a girl I wanted to be a nurse but I had little interest in school and therefore attained very few qualifications. I decided however in 2000 that it was time to have a change of career and so I went to college to try for some more GCSEs. My first job was at Smith and Nephew (from 1976 to 1978) making plasters. I then went to work for Healey’s at Green Component Smith Doors which later became Humber Kitchens then Hygena. I enjoyed this job very much and I remember the opportunities for employees to get great bonuses with the possibility of winning cars and holidays. I also remember that it was very hard to get a job there as most of the jobs were gained through personal contacts and word-of-mouth, but that changed when more and more technology was used and then qualifications and skills became more important. It was as I was given this bad news that I realised that I was fortunate enough to be pregnant with my first child, Doinne. Shortly afterwards I married Stewart Procter in 1980.
I had actually met my husband Stewart in 1977 after a blind date. He was my first boyfriend. We have three grown-up children. Doinne, Emma and Dominic. It was while the children were small that Stewart and I thought about our first holiday abroad but this proved to be a problem as I did not have a passport and could not hope to get one without my birth certificate which was still in Nigeria. This was eventually sorted but it meant a relative had to collect it for me.
I still live in Hull as do all my siblings and my mother. Presently my mother Aina’s family consists of ten children, twenty-four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Take a look at our Family Tree and family photographs below.
I still live in Hull as do all my siblings and my mother. Presently my mother Aina’s family consists of ten children, twenty-four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Take a look at our Family Tree and family photographs below.
The Mainprize/Wheeler Family Tree
To view the Mainprize/Wheeler Family Tree, click on the box above to open up the zoomable PDF viewer.
Family Photographs