People, Places, Events   

Despite his significant contributions to the art of taxidermy, John Edmonstone's early life was marked by adversity. He was born into slavery on a wood plantation in Demerara, British Guiana, which is known today as Guyana in South America. The surname 'Edmonstone' was bestowed upon him by his slave-owner, Charles Edmonstone, who not only owned the plantation but also the Cardross Park estate in Scotland. An influential Black Briton,

Mavis Best, a courageous young Black mother from Lewisham in Southeast London, took it upon herself to challenge the police and rescue the detained boys. When she confronted the police about the wrongful detention of children, she was met with threats of her own arrest.

Born Lilian Bailey on February 18, 1918, Lilian Bader made history as one of the pioneering Black women to enlist in the British armed forces. Her legacy is marked by her courage, determination, and trailblazing spirit, breaking barriers and paving the way for future generations of women of colour in the military.

Justin Soni Fashanu, commonly known as Justin Fashanu, was born on February 19, 1961. He was born to a Nigerian barrister who resided in the United Kingdom and a Guyanese nurse named Pearl. Unfortunately, due to their parents' separation, Justin and his younger brother John Fashanu were placed in a Barnardo's children's home.

John Richard Archer, born in 1863 and passed away in 1932, was a prominent British politician and activist. He made history in 1913 by becoming the first black mayor of a London borough, specifically Battersea. Archer was recognised for his Pan-Africanist beliefs and served as the inaugural president of the African Progress Union.

Joan Armatrading, born in 1950 in Basseterre, Saint Christopher and Nevis, was the third of six children. Her father worked as a carpenter while her mother was a housewife. At the age of three, she was sent to live with her grandmother in Antigua when her parents moved to Birmingham with her two older brothers. In 1958, at the age of seven, Armatrading joined her parents in Brookfields, Birmingham. Her father, who had played in a band in his youth, did not allow his children

Stuart Henry McPhail Hall FBA (3 February 1932 – 10 February 2014), a Jamaican-born British Marxist sociologist, cultural theorist, and political activist, was a key figure in the development of British Cultural Studies. Alongside Richard Hoggart and Raymond Williams, he played a crucial role in establishing the Birmingham School of Cultural Studies.

Andrea Oliver, a renowned British chef, television and radio broadcaster, and former singer, has made a significant impact in the culinary world. Her expertise and passion for cooking have been showcased on the popular BBC cooking show, the Great British Menu, where she has captivated audiences with her culinary skills and vibrant personality.

Diane Julie Abbott, born in 1953, is a British politician and the MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington since 1987. She served as Shadow Home Secretary in Jeremy Corbyn's Shadow Cabinet from 2016 to 2020 and is an advisor to the Privy Council. Abbott is the first black woman elected to parliament and the longest-serving black MP, currently sitting in the House of Commons as an independent Labour Party member.