--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My dad was a proper old English…" description: "\"My dad was a proper old English gentleman, even though he was from the Caribbean. He used to stand up and salute during the Queen's Christmas speech.\" ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc4/john-barnes-2996_christmas_my-dad-was-a-proper-old-english-gentlema_2424501.png" --- # My dad was a proper old English gentleman, even though he… ![“My dad was a proper old English gentleman, even though he was from the Caribbean. He used to stand up and salute during the Queen's Christmas speech.” quote by John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc4/john-barnes-2996_christmas_my-dad-was-a-proper-old-english-gentlema_2424501.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc4/john-barnes-2996_christmas_my-dad-was-a-proper-old-english-gentlema_2424501.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc4/john-barnes-2996_christmas_my-dad-was-a-proper-old-english-gentlema_2424501.png) > “My dad was a proper old English gentleman, even though he was from the Caribbean. He used to stand up and salute during the Queen's Christmas speech.” [John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A juxtaposition of English propriety with Caribbean roots, highlighting cultural blending. **In simple terms:** Cultural mix. Key Takeaway Embrace diverse heritage. Themes identity culture heritage Mood reflective proud Type narrative observational When to use this quote - family gatherings - public ceremonies - personal narratives Key Concepts colonialism diaspora Questions to Reflect On - How does cultural background shape behavior? - What does the salute signify? A Different Perspective Risk of stereotyping. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christmas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christmas/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Dad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad/) [English gentleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/english-gentleman/) [Gentleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gentleman/) [Jamaica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jamaica/) [Queen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/queen/) ## Related quotes > [I had always loved the look of the old English gentleman who dressed in class and style, who knew what he was wearing but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-lauren/i-had-always-loved-the-look-of-the-old-english-gentleman-who-dressed/) [Ralph Lauren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-lauren/) > [I remember, the first time I gave Dad a proper hug, it was big.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cummins/i-remember-the-first-time-i-gave-dad-a-proper-hug-it-was-big/) [Nick Cummins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cummins/) > [One thing I've always loved and rated me dad for is that, because of him, I've never seen the Queen's Christmas speech.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-brown/one-thing-i-ve-always-loved-and-rated-me-dad-for-is-that-because-of/) [Ian Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-brown/) > [My dad came from Trinidad to Jamaica when he was 19. He had to go to Jamaica to join the British regiment, where it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/my-dad-came-from-trinidad-to-jamaica-when-he-was-19-he-had-to-go-to/) [John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/) > [My mother, Jeanne, was a TV and radio presenter in Jamaica. Bob Marley used to appear on her shows all the time and so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/my-mother-jeanne-was-a-tv-and-radio-presenter-in-jamaica-bob-marley/) [John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/) > [I grew up in a middle-class family in Jamaica, I had no self-worth issues whatsoever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/i-grew-up-in-a-middle-class-family-in-jamaica-i-had-no-self-worth/) [John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/) > [It was in the beginning of the month of November, 17--, when a young English gentleman, who had just left the university of Oxford,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/it-was-in-the-beginning-of-the-month-of-november-17-when-a-young/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [He is like to be mistaken who makes choice of a covetous man for a friend, or relieth upon the reed of narrow and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-browne/he-is-like-to-be-mistaken-who-makes-choice-of-a-covetous-man-for-a/) [Thomas Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-browne/) > [“And you call yourself an English gentleman,' she exclaimed, savagely. 'No, that's a thing I've never done in all my life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/and-you-call-yourself-an-english-gentleman-she-exclaimed-savagely-no/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [If there was such a thing as a typical English gentleman in rock music, then it was Jon Lord.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-gillan/if-there-was-such-a-thing-as-a-typical-english-gentleman-in-rock/) [Ian Gillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-gillan/) > [David Bowie is the quintessential English gentleman and, of course, a musical and generational institution. I only played support for him for one night…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooke-fraser/david-bowie-is-the-quintessential-english-gentleman-and-of-course-a/) [Brooke Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooke-fraser/) > [I'm not sure I can take your advice. You are dealing with English Gentlemen. We are dealing with monsters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-buber/i-m-not-sure-i-can-take-your-advice-you-are-dealing-with-english/) [Martin Buber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-buber/) > [In any case, his religious teaching consisted mostly in more or less vague ethical remarks, an obscure mixture of ideals of English gentlemanliness and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/in-any-case-his-religious-teaching-consisted-mostly-in-more-or-less/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“Mr Kingsley begins then by exclaiming- 'O the chicanery, the wholesale fraud, the vile hypocrisy, the conscience-killing tyranny of Rome! We have not far…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-newman/mr-kingsley-begins-then-by-exclaiming-o-the-chicanery-the-wholesale/) [John Henry Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-newman/) > [“An English gentleman is someone who knows exactly when to stop being one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-rodale/an-english-gentleman-is-someone-who-knows-exactly-when-to-stop-being/) [Maya Rodale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-rodale/) ## More by John Barnes > [I am no different from a lot of people. I am concerned for the future of my children and concerned for the future of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/i-am-no-different-from-a-lot-of-people-i-am-concerned-for-the-future/) [John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/) > [For a long time, images of black men with big lips and a round head were used to make us feel inferior, but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/for-a-long-time-images-of-black-men-with-big-lips-and-a-round-head/) [John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/) > [Normally when you look at the Ballon d'Or winners, they're either attacking midfield players or centre-forwards. They are goalscorers and eye-catching players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/normally-when-you-look-at-the-ballon-d-or-winners-they-re-either/) [John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/) > [This is not the way these tales end," Calliope said firmly. 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You quickly learn that any managerial vacancy attracts up to 60 or 70 applicants, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/i-felt-i-had-to-take-the-celtic-opportunity-you-quickly-learn-that/) [John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/) > [You have to give 100 per cent in every game and you cannot give more than 100 per cent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/you-have-to-give-100-per-cent-in-every-game-and-you-cannot-give-more/) [John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/) > [African society and culture varies much more than European society but it's just considered 'Africa' as if they are all the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/african-society-and-culture-varies-much-more-than-european-society/) [John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/) > [“By noon everyone had heard that I had spent the night with Marti in a hotel room and when the cops came by, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/by-noon-everyone-had-heard-that-i-had-spent-the-night-with-marti-in-a/) [John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/) > [Football is all about scoring goals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/football-is-all-about-scoring-goals/) [John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/) > [“Ah. Well, it stands for Freedom From Morality. We don't think healthy amorality happens naturally." "But you're not amoral," I pointed out. I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/ah-well-it-stands-for-freedom-from-morality-we-don-t-think-healthy/) [John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/) > [I'm a real meat eater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/i-m-a-real-meat-eater/) [John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/) > [Race, for me, should be social and cultural, rather than the colour of your skin. Anton Ferdinand would have more in common with John…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/race-for-me-should-be-social-and-cultural-rather-than-the-colour-of/) [John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/) > [The truth is that those at the top of British football do not care about getting rid of racism, they just don't want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/the-truth-is-that-those-at-the-top-of-british-football-do-not-care/) [John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/) [Explore all 143 John Barnes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/) ## More Christmas quotes > [The notion of a non-religious Christmas is ridiculous. But so is the insistence on the part of Christians that politicians and retailers carry out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-campos-duffy/the-notion-of-a-non-religious-christmas-is-ridiculous-but-so-is-the/) [Rachel Campos-Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-campos-duffy/) > [As we are coming to the end of the year, I want you to forget about the past, the failure, the negative thoughts or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-we-are-coming-to-the-end-of-the-year-i-want-you-to-forget-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I once bought my kids a set of batteries for Christmas with a note on it saying, toys not included.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-manning/i-once-bought-my-kids-a-set-of-batteries-for-christmas-with-a-note-on/) [Bernard Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-manning/) > [May you have the spirit of Christmas which is Peace, the gladness of Christmas which is Hope, and the Heart of Christmas which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/may-you-have-the-spirit-of-christmas-which-is-peace-the-gladness-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To my future children; you will know the true meaning of Christmas just not you get gifts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-my-future-children-you-will-know-the-true-meaning-of-christmas/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No sane local official who has hung up an empty stocking over the municipal fireplace is going to shoot Santa Claus just before a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-smith/no-sane-local-official-who-has-hung-up-an-empty-stocking-over-the/) [Al Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-smith/) > [A new heart for a New Year, always!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/a-new-heart-for-a-new-year-always/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [Santa Claus has nothing to do with it," the latke said. "Christmas and Hanukah are completely different things." "But different things can often blend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/santa-claus-has-nothing-to-do-with-it-the-latke-said-christmas-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For Christmas one year I bought my son a BB gun. He bought me a t-shirt with a bulls eye on the back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-dangerfield/for-christmas-one-year-i-bought-my-son-a-bb-gun-he-bought-me-a-t/) [Rodney Dangerfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-dangerfield/) > [“Why did he hesitate? He finally admitted to himself that he was like an American child who was almost completely certain about Santa Claus,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/why-did-he-hesitate-he-finally-admitted-to-himself-that-he-was-like/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [There seems a magic in the very name of Christmas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/there-seems-a-magic-in-the-very-name-of-christmas/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [Heaven? Floating about with everyone you ever knew for eternity? Me family does me 'ed in after one day at xmas, I'd rather be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-pilkington/heaven-floating-about-with-everyone-you-ever-knew-for-eternity-me/) [Karl Pilkington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-pilkington/) > [Like everyone in his right mind, I feared Santa Claus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/like-everyone-in-his-right-mind-i-feared-santa-claus/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [“I stopped keeping an eye out for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve because, when I was five, my mother told me that Santa was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/i-stopped-keeping-an-eye-out-for-santa-claus-on-christmas-eve-because/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [On Hanukkah, the first dark night, Light yourself a candle bright. I'll you, if you will me invite To dance within that gentle light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-gordon/on-hanukkah-the-first-dark-night-light-yourself-a-candle-bright-i-ll/) [Nick Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-gordon/) [Browse all 5,100 Christmas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christmas/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My dad was a proper old English gentleman, even though he was from the Caribbean. 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