Mr Lacita Reid was born in Manchester, Jamaica in 1931. Growing up in the community of Mile Gully he realised there were very few employment opportunities as he had never had a proper job. Following the emigration of his older brother, Alderman to the UK Mr Reid decided it was best for him to emigrate to the UK. He wrote a letter to his brother who agreed to help him pay his fare. At the time travel to the UK cost £75 by ship and £84 by plane. Mr Reid chose to travel by ship, his older brother paid £50 of the fare and he paid the remaining £25.

Mr Reid left from number one pier in Kingston, Jamaica on Monday, 30 September 1957 and arrived in Southampton twenty-three days, later on, Wednesday, 23 October 1957. He lived in London for nearly five years before moving to Newport in April 1962.