Married to a Jamaican: How Alti and Avril’s Chance Meeting in Spanish Town Became a 40-Year Love Story

A young Altiman ‘Alti’ Davis was walking to work when he crossed paths with Avril, a newly arrived British teacher from York, England, still finding her footing in an unfamiliar country. A few cautious exchanges followed. What followed were brief conversations, polite curiosity, a growing sense of familiarity and soon, those chance encounters became daily meetings. Then friendship. Then something deeper.

What neither could have imagined in that moment was that this accidental meeting would grow into a 40-plus-year cross-cultural marriage, spanning Jamaica, Canada, England and beyond.

In this episode of Married to a Jamaican, Jamaicans.com founder Xavier Murphy sits down with Alti and Avril Davis to explore how their love story began, how they navigated cultural differences, and how resilience, humour and shared ambition helped them build a life together across continents.

Different Beginnings

Those early street-side conversations in Spanish Town brought together two people shaped by very different beginnings.

Alti grew up in rural Jamaica in modest circumstances, raised barefoot and learning early how to make do with very little. He speaks candidly about living in a one-room home, cooking over an open fire and developing resilience and resourcefulness from a young age, traits that would later define his approach to work and life.

Avril, by contrast, was born and raised in York, England. After training as a teacher, she made the decision to work overseas, applying for a teaching post in Jamaica driven by curiosity, independence and a desire for new experiences.

Despite their vastly different upbringings, both shared a grounding in education and a willingness to step beyond the familiar.

How Their Paths Aligned

Although their meeting would eventually define their lives, romance was not immediate.

As Alti explains in the episode, Avril was not the person he was initially drawn to when he first met the group of British teachers. Early interactions were cautious and social, shaped by unfamiliar surroundings and circumstance rather than expectation.

Over time, regular encounters and shared conversations allowed comfort to grow. As they spent more time together socially, Alti found himself increasingly drawn to Avril — not through instant attraction, but through ease of conversation and a growing sense of connection.

Culture and Courtship

As their relationship developed, cultural differences naturally surfaced — often in subtle, sometimes humorous ways.

From language and social cues to differing approaches to time and daily life, Alti and Avril found themselves learning not only about each other, but about the cultures they represented. Jamaican “soon come” timing met British punctuality, and small misunderstandings were often resolved with humour rather than tension.

Avril’s experience living and working in Jamaica played a key role in bridging those gaps, helping her better understand local customs, expressions and rhythms of life.

Building a Life Across Jamaica, Canada and England

Their journey together would eventually take them beyond Jamaica, first to Canada, where they arrived with limited resources but shared determination.

Alti recalls taking on whatever work was available and teaching himself new skills long before online tutorials existed. Avril supported the household while navigating her own professional challenges as an immigrant. Together, they laid the foundation for stability and long-term success.

Food became one of the clearest expressions of that blended identity Jamaican staples like ackee and saltfish, curry goat and patties sitting comfortably alongside British favourites such as roast beef and Yorkshire pudding.

Their life together has since stretched across Jamaica, Canada and England, shaped by movement, adaptation and shared ambition.

Family, Identity and Belonging

Alti and Avril are parents to three sons and grandparents to eight grandchildren, many of whom are already embracing Jamaican food and culture.

While acceptance came easily on the Jamaican side, Avril reflects on early hesitation from her own family — shaped more by social perception than prejudice. Over time, those concerns gave way to understanding and strong family bonds.

Their shared family life reflects the merging of cultures that has defined their relationship from the start.

Advice from 40+ Years Together

Asked what advice they would give to couples navigating cross-cultural relationships, Alti and Avril emphasise understanding, patience and openness.

Taking the time to learn each other’s cultures, they explain, is essential — particularly when raising children who belong to more than one world. Their story is not about erasing difference, but about learning to live with it and grow together.

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Are You Married to a Jamaican? Share Your Love Story!

If you’re married to a Jamaican, we’d love for you to share your journey with us. Tell us how you met, the cultural surprises you’ve encountered, and what makes your relationship special. Submit your story here.