Mum and I visit South Africa in 2007 and 2012 to learn about the life and times of my great grandfather, Vincent Lawrence (1872-1965). Lawrence worked with Gandhi when the Mahatma was in South Africa, got involved in the struggle against apartheid, and helped found St. Anthony's Church in Durban.
Recently my sisters and I gathered to visit mum during a brief easing of Covid travel restrictions. Above you can see mum (Dr. Josephine Naidoo, retired professor of Psychology) with my sisters, Dr. Michele Leslie (rural doctor on Haida Gwaii) and Dr. Christina Leslie (Cancer Researcher at Sloan-Kettering in NYC) and me on the far right, Dr. Ken Raj Leslie (professor of Psychology), at my father's grave, Dr. Jim Leslie (former professor of Physics).
I am glad to report that there is renewed interest in moving the Lawrence Project story forward! I think this could happen in a few different ways, including renewed activity on this blog, as well as a Wikipedia post on V. Lawrence, as well as the Lawrence Project video, which was my initial inspiration.
I am delighted that my youngest sister Michele has gotten interested in the Lawrence Project narratives, including learning stories about various ancestors, like Vincent Lawrence, Ammonee, Auntie Sylvie, Uncle Ralph, etc. She is bringing fresh eyes and ears to the substantial amount of data that mum initially gathered, including an interview with Vincent Lawrence when she was 19. This data was gathered together and supplemented with a trip to South Africa in 2007. I am hopeful that we will find a meaningful way to share out what we have learned. Welcome Dr. Michele Leslie to the Lawrence Project!
