People, Places, Events   

Hew Donald Joseph Locke, OBE, RA, (born 13 October 1959) is a British sculptor and contemporary visual artist based in Brixton, London. In 2000 he won a Paul Hamlyn Award and the EASTinternational Award. He grew up in Guyana, but lived most of his adult life in London. Background Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1959, Locke is the eldest son of Guyanese sculptor Donald Locke (1930–2010) and British painter Leila Locke (née Chaplin) (1936–1992).

When Carl Vaughan became Scotland's first black headteacher, his dedication to education, rather than his skin colour, set him apart. Originally from Jamaica, Carl moved to Scotland during World War II. For 18 years, he served as the headteacher of Edinbarnet Primary in Clydebank. Carl, the youngest sibling among six brothers, embarked on a life-changing journey at the tender age of 17. It was October 1942 when he bid farewell to his homeland, Jamaica, and set sail for the

Pearlina Alcock (1934 Jamaica – 7 May 2006, London, England), a Jamaican-born artist and club owner, had a fascinating life and career. In 1934, she was born in Jamaica and later moved to the United Kingdom at the age of 25. Leaving behind her marriage in Jamaica, she embarked on a new chapter in her life. Initially, Alcock found work as a maid in Leeds, but it was in the 1970s that she truly made her mark. She opened a dress shop located at 103 Railton Road in Brixton, whic

Linford Christie OBE, a former sprinter and athletics coach, was born on April 2, 1960, in Jamaica and later became a British citizen. He holds the distinction of being the only British man to have won gold medals in the 100 meters at all four major competitions available to British athletes: the Olympic Games, the World Championships, the European Championships, and the Commonwealth Games.

Colonel (Ret’d) Andy Allen, MBE, as an Army Cadet, had a genuine interest in the Regular Army. However, what truly inspired him was the chance to pursue a career that was unfamiliar to his family and be different. He sought a life filled with adventures that were beyond the imagination of the average young black Londoner.

Laurie Cunningham's legacy extends far beyond the football pitch, as he left an indelible mark on the sport and society as a whole. From his early days playing in London to his time in Leicester, Manchester, and even Madrid, Cunningham faced the harsh reality of racism head-on. In an era when prejudice was rampant in football stadiums, he fearlessly confronted the challenges that came his way.

Cecile Yvonne Conolly, CBE, (1939 – 27 January 2021) was a pioneering Jamaican educator. She made history in 1969 as the United Kingdom's first female black headteacher at the age of 29. Conolly arrived in the UK in 1963 as part of the Windrush generation and dedicated over four decades to a successful career in education. In recognition of her contributions, she was awarded a CBE for her services to education in 2020.

Clifton Robinson, MBE, born in Jamaica in 1926, made a significant impact on the field of education in the United Kingdom. After migrating to the UK in 1944 to join the RAF, he pursued higher education and obtained a degree as an Educational Psychologist from Birmingham University. Despite his impressive qualifications, Robinson faced racial discrimination when he applied for a teaching position. The employer initially turned him away, but later reopened the position, reveali

Steve McQueen, CBE, (born 9 October 1969) a British director, screenwriter, and artist, is widely recognised for his notable feature-length commercial films Hunger (2008), Shame (2011), and 12 Years a Slave (2013). Born in Ealing, West London, England. McQueen's father was from Grenada and his mother was from Trinidad, and they had both migrated to England prior to his birth.