At the age of 72, Errol McCarthy has finally realized his lifelong aspiration of returning to his Jamaican homeland after spending six decades in England. His journey began at just 12 years old when he left Jamaica’s rural Trelawny parish with his sister for Birmingham, initiated by his mother’s petition for their relocation in 1965.
The transition from Jamaica’s warm, sun-drenched landscapes to England’s industrial chill proved profoundly challenging for McCarthy. He recalls experiencing significant culture shock, mourning the loss of carefree childhood activities like swimming in rivers, playing ball, and freely enjoying tropical fruits. “Everything in England you have to pay for,” McCarthy reflected during an interview with the Jamaica Observer. “You go to the park—there’s no free fruit, no apples, no beer, no nothing.”
Despite the initial difficulties with England’s cold, foggy environment and industrial pollution, McCarthy adapted through determination. He progressed through factory and hospital work before qualifying as a home care organizer in social services, eventually specializing in elderly residential care. It was in England that he met his Jamaican wife, with whom he shared the dream of eventual retirement in their homeland.
The couple strategically planned their return for years, purchasing property in St. Elizabeth and constructing a home. They finalized their move in September 2025, though their homecoming coincided with catastrophic Hurricane Melissa just one month later. The Category 5 storm devastated western Jamaica, testing their resilience immediately upon return.
McCarthy described the hurricane experience as terrifyingly different from watching disaster coverage abroad. Despite hours spent battling water intrusion and nearly four months without electricity or internet, the couple demonstrated remarkable community spirit by sharing their stored supplies with affected neighbors.
Now settled, McCarthy expresses absolute contentment with his decision, emphasizing the cultural connection, culinary pleasures, and social freedoms he’s rediscovered. “If I don’t have to go back for any reason, I don’t want to go back,” he stated with evident joy, acknowledging the rarity of successfully executing such long-term retirement plans among diaspora Jamaicans.