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EASTENDERS Rudolph Walker & Angela Wynter - KEEPING HEALTHY THE CARIBBEAN WAY
Despite recent changes in the law on using mobile phones in cars - I’m constantly amazed how often I see people still chatting on them whilst behind the wheel; in fact just this morning I’ve also spotted someone eating his breakfast, another shaving, a rather large lady cuddling her dog and a couple engaged in a pretty serious smooch - but then I have been sitting in this traffic jam for over half an hour!
What Medicine have sent me to the famous Elstree Studios in London; home of the Eastenders set, to chat with Rudolph Walker and Angela Wynter alias Patrick Trueman and his on screen lady-friend Yolandi. There has been much talk recently about the state of the health of the Nation, it seems every other programme includes some reference to diet, or health and fitness; and news programmes appear to delight in showing images of overly large people out shopping.
Both Rudolph and Angela were born in the Caribbean, and brought up with the traditions, wisdoms and philosophies handed down through generations of elders. It has long been acknowledged that the dietary habits of the Caribbean island has resulted in a much lower incidence of heart disease, cancer and strokes. However the trend in recent years has been characteristically more Western, with fast food chains moving in and the general population adopting more time saving strategies simply for convenience as we do here. We thought it interesting to see what changes this might have had on the Island’s health and psyche.
I arrived at Elstree twenty minutes late, signed myself into the BBC car park and ducked out of the rain into a rather nondescript, low -slung building that is the BBC canteen and bar - nothing like Eastenders Queen Vic at all. They were waiting for me - patiently I hasten to add, as I dropped my overladen camera bag at their feet and offered a still rain soaked hand in greeting.
Rudolph Walker has been an actor I’ve long admired. As a kid I remember his star role in the 1972 hit television series ‘Love Thy Neighbour’ - probably far too controversial a project these days - possibly litigious at the time too, but it did much to show the absurdity of modern society, and I now hope we’re all the better for it.
Rudolph said, “You know the medicinal relationship between plants and humans goes back many thousands of years - perhaps for most of our history. With the exception of the past century in the West; plants have been the principal source of medicine, fighting disease and stimulating the body’s own healing powers in ways modern science is just beginning to understand. As a kid I remember taking molasses - the donkey cart would pass by once a week carrying a huge drum of the stuff, and my grandmother would send me out with a few cents and a jug. It’s a wonderful laxative. We were quite poor; when I look at photographs of my home I find it hard to believe I grew up there. But it was surrounded by fruit trees, and we largely ate from the land. It was wonderful, I could lie in the shade under an orange tree and if I felt the need simply reach up and pull one from the branches.”
By contrast Angela grew up in a bar. Her parents had left to set up a new life in England, to provide a more settled existence for her to move into later. “My grandmother ran the bar, and I was the mascot behind it, I seem to have memories of being a bit of a wild child, a little boisterous I think - I didn’t have to do the dishes, and there was always someone to look after my every need. It was a lovely life. Often I would go to the country to stay with my great grandmother - that was a completely different experience, I’d go fishing with my grandfather and I still remember the freshness, the sunshine. I moved to the UK in 1965, and grew up as any other little black girl at that time. England though was something of a culture shock; after four years I had few memories of my parents, and suddenly I was expected to do things for myself.”
It wasn’t until 1986 that Angela had the opportunity to return home. Unfortunately both her grandparents had died. She visited the country home she knew - where once coffee grew, and orange and mango trees, there was just dereliction; “I was in a state of shock, it was such a lush place, under a canopy of trees so thick the sun could hardly get through. Beyond the small wooden house there were tall coconut trees all the way to the horizon. Now the ground was overgrown, uncultivated, just left to its own devices, the house was falling down - it was so hard to look at. But the people were much the same, more affluent though and pursuing more Western ideals.”
Since the mid 80’s Angela has regularly returned home to Jamaica; “As a child I was in paradise, but it’s all being spoiled in pursuit of progress. It’s all fast roads now, and fast food chains on every corner - the people are not taking time for themselves. When I first went home they looked like gods, lean and very statuesque, but over the years I’ve noticed they eat more junk and imported foods - they’re not eating natural foods from the land anymore. Consequently there’s a lot more loose flesh around; you never used to see that; and people are using more pharmaceutical medicines in their old age, I find the senior generation looking much older, lacking vitality. In the past they looked brighter, especially in their eyes - they had good muscle tone, now their skin is creased and saggy.” Angela describes their appearance as more like the inhabitance of the West, “I’m sure it’s to do with diet and the modern medicines they’re taking. Before they would drink special brews for specific aliments - that’s what they’ve been surviving on for centuries, handed down through the family.”
Rudolph say’s he too has witnessed a steep decline in the general health and well-being of the Caribbean islands. “When I left the Caribbean in 1960, the people were virtually free of disease and illness. But there is now a severe lack of agriculture, a lack of appreciation of the land, particularly in Trinidad where I grew up. Like the UK they've created a concrete jungle - where once there were mango trees there are now enormous houses with swimming pools cemented in. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to find areas still cultivating the traditional Caribbean ways. When I first came to the UK, I was exposed to all the usual cultural Western habits, drinking, drugs and parties, and boy did I party - but I’ve never liked being around anyone who smokes, or uses drugs, I get my highs from right here,” he said thumping his chest. “I’ve always tried to look after myself, and to be honest that was something drummed into me from an early age, I prefer to head off anything nasty by pursuing preventative measures. My overall intake is healthy, although I’m not one who thinks that by taking a supplement I will walk tall, it’s much more than that; it’s that philosophy - ‘you are what you put in your mouth’.”
It’s generally acknowledged that people who eat regular portions of fruit and vegetables are significantly healthier. Unfortunately so many of us here in the West appear to have lost the ability to survive outside this imperishable world we believe we’ve created around ourselves. And worst still we’re in the process of infecting much of the rest of the world with our ideals.
We also appear to have lost many of the basic life skills essential to our survival - surrounded by all things man made, reaching by reflex action towards anything convenient; ever ready for us - so engrossed in technology my son at ten years of age can equal my computer skills, drive a car - off road of course, and do pretty much the same as I can at my great age and level of experience.
Technology rules our lives, an obvious statement to make I know; but how many children, or adults for that matter know where much of our food comes from, or how to prepare and cook a meal with a credible nutritional value, or how to heal our bodies when we get sick, or create a regime that ensures we remain healthy.
The Government suggests our minimum nutritional requirements in statements to the press, or issues contradictory food and health scares all too frequently. We’re lost in one heck of a confusing maze - so, many of us do nothing - but seriously, this is one issue worthy of our immediate attention - because our lives literally depend on the decision we make.