From Coolshade to Cowley Road
The story of Mrs Icolyn Smith
Andrew Bax

Oxford's Cowley Road has a life of its own in which some remarkable individuals have contributed to its rich and diverse community. Among them is Mrs Icolyn Smith MBE. This is the story of her life from its simple beginnings in rural Jamaica, through the difficulties of raising a family in 1960s Britain, to the discovery of her mission to help hundreds - perhaps thousands of people whose lives have been shattered by events they could not control.  

In telling her fascinating story, this book divides itself into the main aspects of her life:  

• Rural self-sufficiency in Jamaica, unchanged since the aftermath of slavery
• Survival in the shantytowns of Kingston, during the turbulent time of Independence
• Half a century of struggle and compassion among the under-privileged of Oxford
• The award of her MBE and her appearance on television

About the title: Coolshade is a tiny village in the foothills of Jamaica's Blue Mountains where Icolyn and her family have lived for generations. Much of the remaining story centres around Cowley Road in Oxford

124 pages, 37 illustrations. £7.99 net.
ISBN 978-178456-145-1