60 decades across the
years
Celebrating 60 years
SOUVENIR EDITION
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Foreword I am very pleased and proud to write this foreword for the Booklet and this momentous milestone of the Organisation.
1955
first seed of DWICA
"The first seed of Derby West Indian Community Association (DWICA) was sown in 1955 when a number of West Indians met in the house of a friend in Pear Tree/Normanton to look at unity and survival in a foreign land". Today's Exhibition is a result of this meeting. Over many years the organisation has been run mainly by volunteers working in partnership with the Local Authority, the Voluntary Community Sector and the Private and Public Sector. In doing so the Association has been instrumental in harnessing and demonstrating the vitality of the West Indian Community and the transmission of West Indian Culture, contributing to the life of the City of Derby and the County of Derbyshire. DWICA’s contribution, in terms of social/cultural, educational, recreational, and good Community Race Relations is evidence of the success of peace, through cultural diversity and community cohesion that we enjoy in the City of Derby. The Association's work with the Local Authorities, Private and Public Sector has contributed significantly to the successful delivery of many Government Agendas whether it be Education,
Health, Crime or Diversity. DWICA has a long track record of community development work/ initiatives and services to the Communities of Derby and Derbyshire resulting in considerable measurable outcomes. I hope the Exhibition reflects some of the work we do over the years. It, however, should reflect organisational, individuals and groups and our community achievements. Over the years we have had visits from and entertained the West Indies Cricket Team, Civic Dignitaries, Councillors, MPs, Lord Lieutenants, various High Commissioners and two Governor Generals. The loss of core funding from Derby City Council has presents some difficulties for the Organisation financially and has made our survival quite precarious. The Managing Trustees however are determined to do all in its power to preserve and sustain the centre for posterity by continuing its positive approach to succession planning. This Exhibition has only been made possible with funding from the Heritage Lottery and the Big Lottery Celebrate Programme. We would like to register our thanks here to them. We must also extend thanks to the University of Derby who have provided staff time support and resources. It would be remissive of me if I did not also extend thanks to all the volunteers and those who have provided oral interviews, collected information and given in kind support to the project. Thanks also to Berimma
DWICA: Across The Decades
Sankofa, the Researcher/ Co-ordinator, and his Team, for the tremendous work he has done in researching, collating and executing the project. Probably our greatest thanks should go to our forebears for their foresight and pioneering exploits in establishing this organisation and extend thanks to all those who have carried on the work to this stage, with special recognition for past and present Presidents, Secretaries, Treasurers, their Assistants and Management Trustees. DWICA is proud of its legacy to this City and hope that this Exhibition will live forever in the annals of our history.
G. Mighty
Chairman G. Mighty MBE, HonMuniv, JP, M.Ed, IENG, MIET
University The Department of Media and Performing Arts at the University of Derby is one of a select few academies in the UK that are run by awardwinning film and television professionals, world-class researchers, and support staff who have a proven track record of working in the industry.
Our staff research encompasses themes of cultural value for health and wellbeing, creative ecologies which explore the studies the intersection of art, culture, and environment. Our aim is to develop useful interdisciplinary research tools to examine how cultural practitioners— filmmakers, new media strategists, photojournalists, architects, writers, activists, and interdisciplinary theorists—critically address and creatively negotiate environmental concerns in the local, regional, and global field. Our work includes projects related to DerwentWISE 5 year Heritage Lottery Funded projects, and the annual Nature Connections Festival. Recent staff successes include awards for film making, postgraduate teaching for the Maltese Film Commission, in addition to our lens based activities across photography, film and media in partnership with the FORMAT International Film and Photography Exhibition and Conferences. This year we are also hosting the Royal Photographic Society Exhibition, July 2016. Dr Christine Parker’s recent film is an example of the high quality writing and film production that we produce, that has impact and makes a difference to society. In
addition, it received an ‘Award for Excellence’ at this year’s best shorts films competition. http://bestshorts.net/ filmmaker-rep/ Professor Chris White, Head of the Department of Media and Performing Arts said: ‘This has been a particularly auspicious
year. The department is integral to the developing profile of placemaker activities outlined in the government recent Culture White Paper. The research in the department is both interdisciplinary and specialist. Our Media Production programme has produced significant broadcast material over many years that is in the public domain changing perceptions and reaching out to a cultural demographic to showcase the lives of people in the region. Phil Basi has produced work which enables students to get real-world experiences through his research into representations of mutlicultural music and lifestyles which builds on his broadcast work with the BBC. In addition the films from BA (Hons) Media Production that have been completed this year have been directed by women and so we celebrate that too.’ The university’s filmrelated undergraduate and postgraduate programs are based at Markeaton Street, just a short walk away from the city centre and the University’s main campus at Kedleston Road. Students have access to state-of-the-art facilities, thanks to the university’s rolling investment in cuttingedge camera, light and sound
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technology, along with dedicated studio, workshop and post-production facilities. Undergraduates can pursue degrees covering film production, production design, visual effects and post-production, and media production, while postgraduates can focus on a specialist aspect of film or photographic practice, as well as explore the relationship between the two disciplines, under the MA in Film and Photography. In line with the nature of the industry, many of the university’s graduates work on a freelance basis. The department provides support for aspiring entrepreneurs starting out in the creative industries through its incubation unit, Banks Mill, which offers studio workspace and business development activities in a vibrant and thriving community of artists, designers, and makers. At the University of Derby, a challenging, well-rounded curriculum is backed up by a dedication to critical thinking and career planning that ensures its graduates can be found in top media positions around the world. In addition to the core teaching of the Programme, we boast an array of exciting added value features that make it truly special. At the forefront of these is our long standing Internship arrangement with the Malta Film Commission; an organisation that has been at the centre of some of the biggest productions of the last thirty years, including Gladiator, World War Z, Captain Phillips, and Game of Thrones. As a result of undertaking an Internship with the Film Commission our students have found themselves on the set of the latest Michael Bay film (13 Hours), working alongside legendary French director
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4 Luc Besson, and even gaining paid employment on the new Assassin's Creed movie starring Michael Fassbender. In addition, we are regularly approached by corporate and commercial organisations looking to offer work to our students. Three times each year, the we produce our own in-house magazine (Take One) which is packed with features, tips, articles and reviews from both staff and students alike. The magazine (which always has a current student as Editor in Chief) provides a central focus for the many activities our students are involved with both as part of their studies and in terms of their own work experience. Of course, any Film School is only as good as the success of its graduates and thankfully we have an enviable track record in award winning filmmaking and commercial success. Most recently, a group of Year Three students won the regional heat of the Royal Television Society's competition for Best Student Drama with their dystopian sci-fi thriller Mould. Just as impressive, last year saw graduate Owen Tooth secure international distribution for his first feature film, Devil's Tower. Other graduates have gone on to specialise in the world of corporate filmmaking and are regularly found jetting off to remote corners of the
Phil Basi Producer/Director
planet to work on projects. Significantly, the University of Derby boasts one of the highest levels of graduate employment in the United Kingdom. activities in a vibrant and thriving community of artists, designers, and makers. At the University of Derby, a challenging, well-rounded curriculum is backed up by a dedication to critical thinking and career planning that ensures its graduates can be found in top media positions around the world. In addition to the core teaching of the Programme, we boast an array of exciting added value features that make it truly special. At the forefront of these is our long standing Internship arrangement with the Malta Film Commission; an organisation that has been at the centre of some of the biggest productions of the last thirty years, including Gladiator, World War Z, Captain Phillips, and Game of Thrones. As a result of undertaking an Internship with the Film Commission our students have found themselves on the set of the latest Michael Bay film (13 Hours), working alongside legendary French director Luc Besson, and even gaining paid employment on the new Assassin's Creed movie starring Michael Fassbender. In addition, we are regularly approached by corporate and commercial organisations
Phil Basi is a multi award winning Series Producer / Director with the benefit of over thirty years of music, arts, documentary, factual, and entertainment production. Having worked for both the ITV & the BBC, two of the UK major broadcaster he brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to his position as Programme Leader of Media Production at the University Of Derby. Being responsible for thousands of hours of TV over his career still states his highlight of being responsible for the live broadcast of Mother Teresa’s funeral from India back to the UK.
looking to offer work to our students. Three times each year, the we produce our own in-house magazine (Take One) which is packed with features, tips, articles and reviews from both staff and students alike. The magazine (which always has a current student as Editor in Chief) provides a central focus for the many activities our students are involved with both as part of their studies and in terms of their own work experience. Of course, any Film School is only as good as the success of its graduates and thankfully we have an enviable track record in award winning filmmaking and commercial success. Most recently, a group of Year Three students won the regional heat of the Royal Television Society's competition for Best Student Drama with their dystopian sci-fi thriller Mould. Just as impressive, last year saw graduate Owen Tooth secure international distribution for his first feature film, Devil's Tower. Other graduates have gone on to specialise in the world of corporate filmmaking and are regularly found jetting off to remote corners of the planet to work on projects. Significantly, the University of Derby boasts one of the highest levels of graduate employment in the United Kingdom.
the industry is the only way to keep pace with the ever change word of Media Production. Born and raised in Derby he is second generation British/Asian and strives to document the stories of 1st generation immigrants who settled in the region and jumped at the chance of getting involved in the 5 Decades Project.
“The experiences of both the Afro Caribbean & Asian community have been closely linked, and I believe these colourful personal stories need to be archived for the benefit of future generations to give them a sense of Still an active practitioner he believes what the pioneering generation did that teaching and still being active in for us.
DWICA: Across The Decades
Local Studies Library
The library is located in Riverside Chambers – the old magistrates’ court building on Full Street. We hold a wealth of information on Derby, its history, development, people and communities. This includes photographs, maps and plans, local newspapers, books, leaflets, official records and much, much more. If you want to find out more about any aspect of Derby, we are the place to visit! To find out what we have you view Derby City Libraries’ online catalogue, but a visit in person will allow you to search our name and subject indexes and other finding aids. Our team are always happy to help and new customers are given a warm welcome and assistance in getting started with their research. All you need is your library card, or if you’re not already a member, some ID that proves you live, work or study in Derby. Library customers can do a lot from home – as well as searching the catalogue, we have a small collection of original documents that have been digitised and can
be downloaded as eBooks, you can use our eReference Library to access local newspapers including the Derby Evening Telegraph up to 1950, and over coming months more and more of our resources will be digitised and made available online through the library catalogue. We rely heavily on donated material and partnership working with community groups to build the library collection; material which can then be shared freely for everyone to enjoy. We are particularly keen to build an archive that fully represents Derby’s ethnic and minority communities – both current activity and the history and formation of those communities, and their contribution to Derby’s history and development over the last sixty-plus years. This is why we were delighted to support Derby West Indian Community Association’s Across The Decades project by sharing photographs, newspaper articles and other records we have relating to the AfricanCaribbean community in Derby. The Derby West
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Indian Community Centre has played an instrumental role over many years and deserves not only to be celebrated, but also to have its own history properly recorded, and shared both within the community it serves, but also more widely with Derby and beyond. All the information the project has gathered and compiled will be placed in the library and made freely available for study by all, for perpetuity. Address: Derby Local Studies and Family History Library, Riverside Chambers, Full Street, DE1 3AF Telephone: 01332 642240 Website: www.derby.gov.uk/ libraries Email enquiries: localstudies.library@derby. gov.uk
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Across the decades exhibition creates the opportunity to showcase Derby West Indian Community Association’s track record covering a sixty (60) year timeframe to reach its diamond anniversary milestone. The exhibition highlights key developments that have enabled DWICA to grow, based on the desires of the members who are considered to be the post world war 2 first generation from the Caribbean. To bring the exhibition to the public there was a lot of contributors who helped clarify the developments and times which made it possible to collate the information into the appropriate project decade. It must be said that over the years some recorded information has been lost which means more time to research and collate then put into the correct context and made available to the public. To give this project longevity the launch of a website with regular updates will ensure the history that African Caribbean people have made to the city of Derby is recorded and educational organisations (School, Colleges and Universities) can use this resource as a teaching aid to inform students. The general public can also access this website in their quest for information relating to DWICA. By undertaking the research it was possible to feel the spirit of the organisation and its desire to support and assist fellow members of the African Caribbean community whilst embracing the new culture of Derby and the host community. Experiences shared by many living in Derby revealed they had many things in common e.g Sharing Doctors, employers (British Celanese, British Rail, Derby Bus Corporation) living in close proximity which often lead to socialising outside work and it is this situation that created DWIA.
DWICA: Across The Decades
With this exhibition those that attend will see that by using a time line format and other visual artefacts this rich local history made by the post world war 2 first generation African Caribbean community living in Derby has been the foundation in which community cohesion, and community development, has grown and DWICA recognised as a key partner by local, regional, and national government bodies over the last 60 years. DWICA is the oldest African Caribbean organisation in Derby which has witnessed the growth and development of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th generations of African Caribbean people living in Derby. Some say DWICA is one of a small number of African Caribbean community organisation in England with a 60 year proven track record, and still continuing to delivering community services The information used in the exhibition comes from original minutes books, Newsletters, annual reports interviews with members of the African Caribbean community, a range of DWICA documents, various research studies reports, A special acknowledgement must be given to Derby Local Studies Library Mark Young and his team for providing access to historical information, Derby University Phil Basi & Kay Mayuaya for the production of the ATD footage. The exhibition celebrates achievements made by DWICA through the time line format and as such includes:The benevolent fund – members creating a financial resource via weekly contributions to help those facing financial difficulties. Fund raising for disasters in the Caribbean - DWIA members raising to the challenge to raise funds for floods and hurricane and Earthquake disasters in countries in the Caribbean.
7 Giving a donation to the police authority in the 1960s for officers who lost their lives in the course of their duties. Building Community relations with Local government & BBC Radio Derby – This could be seen as The biggest achievement DWICA has made as it has been at the forefront in the consultation representation and championing causes to aid community development. Working with national bodies and high commissions from the Caribbean has placed DWICA in a respectable position nationally and internationally. The building – the challenge to obtain the community centre building phase one and two is down to dedication and commitment of many members to secure the resources and location to build and the professional methodology used by the CRE Officer, Milton Crosdale at the time to ensure phase two was built with short notice. It must be said that this was a real community effort to ensure the building moved from a wish to a reality. The summer school – One of DWICA’s longest serving project and has seen 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th generations attending to participate in character building activities for young people. It is fair to say this has been in excess of 500 young people. Derby Caribbean Carnival - Whilst there are no visual evidence of carnival in the late
1960’s and 70’s members can recall carnival from the late 1960’s. Early photographs show carnival in the mid 1970’s. It is commonly acknowledged that Derby Caribbean Carnival 1975 was a significant year as it created the time line to track Derby Caribbean carnival to date and as such is also considered as one of the longest established projects of DWICA and as such has seen the rise to regional, national and international recognition and attracting thousands of people from the midlands and nationally on an annual basis to Derby to experience Derby Caribbean Carnival that has an international headline act to close the 2 day event. International & National dignitaries/ guests of honour visiting the centre - The official guess book documents a cross section of visitors to the centre which highlights the impact DWICA has had locally, nationally and internationally. Early newspaper articles - documents the footprint of the African Caribbean community in the 1960s. One example of this was an article in Derby Evening Telegraph on Tuesday 22nd July 1969 headline “West Indian Association honour blaze hero” and the reader is informed how a young 13 year old African Caribbean boy Dennis Dale saved an 11 months & 4 year old brothers Ian & Michael Waite out of a house on fire from a smoked filled room in Crompton street. DWIA Chairman and Secretary presented the young hero with a gift watch to acknowledge his act of bravery.
Vote of thanks to Kay...
Kay Mayuya is a 20-year-old Zambian media production student at Derby University. From his early teens he has participated in media production work, starting at church operating cameras and working as media technician. Kay worked as part of the BBC production team for Chris Evans 500 words and is always various people to produce videos. He is now working on video editing, directing his own projects with aim to start his own company in the future and also enjoys music production. Kay's creativity comes from an endless list of things he blends a lot of his ideas to create unique productions. Ideas can be generated from anything looking at images and imagining how they could be brought to life as a video or just by
everyday things like the way nature moves and how we adapt to our surroundings and try to make something surreal seem real. Kay believes that we only learn and fully understand by involving ourselves in physical activity and getting hands on with a project. As he still young he is always willing to learn new things to expand his knowledge in different aspects of life such as business and management. In the future Kay also looks to have an organisation that provides creative help for youth to give back to the community because a high majority of youth are turned away from their creativity and passion due to a number of situations and wants to ensure that isn’t the case for as many youths as possible.
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Tribute to Mr K. McKenzie AKA “ Mr Mac” Mr McKenzie invested his own money and time to provide resources for the youth club which operated two days per week, Monday 6.00pm – 9.00pm – 10.00pm (general games night) and Fridays 6.00pm – 10.30pm – 11.00pm (music nights) which attracted visitors from Nottingham. He quickly gained the respect from the young people that attended. It could be said that he was a mentor who provided advice and guidance. Mr McKenzie created a cricket team for the youth club which was then known as St Thomas Caribbean Cricket team. This team played many great matches in Derby and Derbyshire e.g. Repton College, Dension College in Stafford and teams in Wolverhampton Derby City Council in the early 1970’s was keen to offer support to the youth club. However Mr. McKenzie did not accept their support as it came with too many conditions. At St James Church, Mr McKenzie and the young people experienced hostility / racial discrimination to such a level Reverend Joyce had to meet the congregation and remind them of the Christian values which lead to an improvement in attitude Reverend Joyce was popular amongst young people and attended youth club on a regular basis and took part in youth club activities.
Spotlight Name: Kenneth McKenzie Date of birth: 13th September 1917 Place of Birth Santa Cruz St Elizabeth Parish Jamaica Date arrived in England: 9th December 1957 Age on arrival to Derby: 40 years Work History: Completed his apprenticeship in Montego Bay, Jamaica as a carpenter which gave him the skills set to complete many difficult tasks related to carpentry. Moved to Falmouth Trelawney (where he met his wife Violet McKenzie and had their only Child Horace McKenzie). He then became an active church goer in Falmouth, Came to Derby and worked on many projects including the building of the Derby Royal Infirmary Hospital (DRI) in
DWICA: Across The Decades
the late 1960’s early 1970’s. Then worked at Willington Power Station and other construction projects in Derby. Favourite dish: Chicken with Rice & Peas
9 Involvement in DWIA: Mr McKenzie was an active member of DWIA as a member and serving on the committee for many years. History of development to form DWIA youth club “Mr Mac” as he was often referred to was an active church member whilst in Jamaica so when he came to England / Derby he continued with this faith and as such he was a member of St Thomas Church, Pear Tree Road. Mr Mac saw the importance of working and supporting young people in Derby so embarked on a mission to provide a provision that young people could benefit from. Mr Mac is recognised as the first person from the post world war 2 in Derby to set up a youth club for African Caribbean young people.
“He was a determined man and was very focused on the work he undertook. A loving father who was generous, honest and trustworthy” Horace McKenzie (Son)
“He was a good guidance for us, a mentor and a good organiser; he arranged cricket matches e.g. Repton Sudbury, Foston Hall. He instilled good discipline in us. I do not know what we would have done without him in our youthful days.” Lloyd Newby
Thanks to Sam Lee Sam Lee was the most progressive Treasurer the Association ever had. He was innovative and forward thinking, a good knowledge of organisations, Committees and structures; an Engineer and Businessman. The brainchild of the first Credit Union in Derby belongs to him and he in conjunction with Mr. Mighty produced the first proper constitution for the DWICA. He was a great inspiration to the Organisation and a marvellous original thinker. He was an asset to and contributed enormously to the Development of the organisation.
Men from left to right: Mr. Cleveland Chin, Mr Sam Lee (wearing bow tie).
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60 decades across the
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Pre DWIA After the Second World War the British Government recognised that its workforce was depleted and to rebuild the country it required a strong reliable workforce. It became obvious that it required people from overseas and the government
Celebrating 60 years
looked to its British colonies in the Caribbean to recruit the workforce to rebuild the country’s industry. The West Indies consists of more than 20 islands in the Caribbean, including Jamaica, Barbados and Trinidad. With nearly 500,000 African Caribbean people arriving into Britain from 1948 to 1970, this vast workforce changed the face of modern Britain. At the time being British citizens from the Caribbean meant having the right to enter, work and settle here if they wanted to. Following an advertisement placed in local newspapers for those seeking a new life and work, the "Empire Windrush" sailed
DWICA: Across The Decades
away from the Kingston shores on May 24th, 1948 and arrived in Tilbury, near
London on June 22nd, 1948. On board were students, servicemen, domestic workers, and writers to name a few. Many of them were recruited as workers to run the transport system, postal service and hospitals.
11 Records show that the “Empire Windrush” originally MV Monte Rosa, was a passenger liner and cruise ship launched in Germany in 1930. At the end of WWII the ship was acquired by the United Kingdom as a prize of war and as a result of a fire the ship was on tow by HMS Enard Bay going to Gibraltar and in worsening weather The “Empire Windrush” sank in the early hours of the following morning, Monday, 30th
March 1954. The wreck lies at a depth of around 2,600 metres (8,500 ft). By boat a typical journey would start from Kingston, Jamaica and dock in Tilbury near London, the journey took about one month. Some journeys were a combination (Sea & Train). Starting by sea the ship would Island hop, docking in at various ports in the Caribbean before sailing across the Atlantic to Europe
where the final stages of the journey would be completed by train (from Europe to the UK) Dominican Republic Martinique Trinidad Venezuela Tenerife Spain (Barcelona) France (Cannes) Italy (Genoa) Then train to Switzerland Venezuela Calais Ferry to the UK (Dover)
British Overseas Airways Corporation- BOAC (what was then a British stateowned airline based on a merger of Imperial Airways and British Airways Ltd established in 1940) was the main commercial passenger air line making transatlantic journeys from the Caribbean to England
By air it was a more straightforward journey travelling direct for 9 or more hours, some passengers had a journey that took two days as their flight had a stop over which meant they were “in Transit” and subject to waiting in the airport until the connecting flight was ready to complete the journey, often landing in London.
Derby received a mass influx of people from the Caribbean from the late 1940’s into the 1950’s and 1960’s who are considered as the first generation of post Second World War from the Caribbean. It is acknowledged that people from the Caribbean were already living in the United Kingdom prior to this date. Most people from the Caribbean came to the UK with the intention to return back to the Caribbean once
they had generated sufficient financial resources to improve their quality of life for themselves and their family. The 5-year plan was considered the most popular time-frame for generating the funds required to fulfil the dream. It was also acknowledged that some African Caribbean people were returning soldiers who had fought for Britain during the Second World War (19391945).
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12 On arrival people of the Caribbean who were British subjects via the British Commonwealth had a culture shock because of the weather, accommodation, food and reception from the host nation. The new arrivals to Derby came from various Caribbean Islands that included Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, St Kitts & Nevis. No official figures are available that could provide actual figures of African Caribbean people coming in Derby as a result of the post Second World War invitation for Caribbean people to come and work in England. African Caribbean people living in Derby began to share experiences, resources, and to offer support where they could as part of developing community cohesion to adapt the relevant life skills needed to improve quality of life in England. Weekends were considered as an opportunity for community cohesion by visiting family and /or friends, locally, regionally and nationally. Families and friends shared good and bad experiences of housing, employment, public transport etc a sense of community knowledge was being developed and shared, and in doing so created a point of reference / checklist for the community when seeking answers to questions or resolving welfare and social matters. It was also an opportunity for some to use their transferable skills from the Caribbean to support those with social and welfare concerns. This would be to complete application forms, write letters, or agree solutions to barriers that affected their improvement to their quality of life.
Welfare matters became a concern for many and keeping in communication with family and friends back in the Caribbean was very important. In the 1950’s and 1960’s letters were the main line of communication with families “back home”. Through what could be considered as social networking, African Caribbean people developed a system for those who needed to keep in touch with family and friends in the Caribbean Letter writing was then considered an art form, precise in structure, which was underpinned by good grammar and use of the English language. Equally important was good reading skills as there were many documents to be read as a means of obtaining essential knowledge for adapting to life in England. It became clear that such communication skills set were in demand and those with them along with good social and practical skills were often asked to read and compile letters, along with completing various application forms on a regular basis. This could be seen as a Home Tuition that equipped existing and new arrivals with essential reading and writing skills, not only to communicate with family and friends in the Caribbean but to deal with social and welfare (housing and employment) matters that faced them in everyday life as a resident of Derby. It was in 1955 that members of the African Caribbean community then set about to create a body that would have organisational structure to deal with social and welfare matters through a process dialogue with external
DWICA: Across The Decades
agencies such as Derby City Council, the police etc. The following points were considered to be the foundation for the development of DWIA to address concerns African Caribbean people had at that time: • Young women who came from the Caribbean and had children • Men experiencing abuse at work • Social welfare problem, multi sharing in houses e.g. cooking, bathroom etc. • No experiences living & working in Derby - it was necessary to look at a new format to address social economic issues • Racial attacks and abuse from the host nation (e.g. Teddy boys or general public who did not like African Caribbean people, also the police’s attitude and conduct towards African Caribbean people) was a concern to the 1st Generation as they could see it having an effect on the 2nd generation (their children). • In addition, poor service/ experience when going to the Council house on social welfare, housing matters, employment, etc. • 1st generation needing to support the 2nd generation (young people) on social matters and out of school activities in order not to get in trouble with the police. • African Caribbean people needed to buy houses to help each other buy houses (greater in numbers) • Limited communication skills set to maintain links with family and friends in the Caribbean
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The formation of a Caribbean people’s organisation
During mid to late 1950’s African Caribbean people were too busy with the “day to day” survival and creating a family environment to improve the quality of life. Therefore, they did not get involved in party politics. However it was acknowledged that local politics and culture shaped their working, living and social environment. A group of African Caribbean members with transferable skills set, the time, and commitment started to meet at their homes to explore how best to set up a body that could assist in the growth and development of African Caribbean people in Derby to deal with a variety of social and welfare issues not only for their generation (1st) but other generations after themselves (2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc). These meetings took place mainly in the evening, attended by men and women. Early meetings took place at people’s homes.
On Saturday 2nd December 1961 a Public meeting was held at Normanton Hotel, Normanton Road or Pear Tree Road to establish an DECEMBER organisation. Mr Charles Hill and associates presided over the meeting that was attended by over 100 people. A draft constitution was 1961 presented and after a few minor changes the constitution was accepted by those present and it was agreed that the organisation should be called DERBY WEST INDIAN ASSOCIATION (DWIA)
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Guest Speaker Dr C. E. Meade and the returning Officer was Mr A. Bethune, Community Development Welfare Officer of the migrant services department. DWIA first elected Officers President: Mr Charles Hill Secretary: Mr Sheridan Douglas Vice Secretary: Mr R Barnes Treasurer: Mr Caleb McBean DWIA First elected Executive Committee members Mr J Smith Mr Riley Mr Channer Mr G A Powell Mr C Brooks Mr G Francis Mr G Davidson Mr Stanley Mr A Cowell Mr G Rochester Mrs Channer Mrs P Hutchinson
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14 1982 DWIA Community Centre The phase one section that was completed in 1982 (commonly referred to now as the committee rooms)
Source: Local Studies Library
Friday February 27th 1981 Prince Charles showing off his dance moves when he met young people from the African Caribbean Community at the Madeley Centre on Rose Hill Street Derby
Source: Local Studies Library
Friday February 27th 1981 Prince Charles playing Bar football with young people from the African Caribbean Community at the Madeley Centre on Rose Hill Street Derby (I wonder did he win ?)
Source: Local Studies Library
DWICA: Across The Decades
15 Friday February 27th 1981 At the Madeley Centre on Rose Hill Street Derby left to right DWIA member Mr Bob Murray and Mr Solomon “Ricky” Walters DWIA President Talking to Prince Charles. Ricky arrived in England in 1956 and worked at British Celanese and British Rail before opening the Havana Club in 1956 probably one of the earliest African Caribbean club to open in the UK. Source: Local Studies Library
1962 Mr & Mrs Williamson's Wedding Photograph two of the post world war 2 members of pioneer community that came to Derby in 1962
Source: Local Studies Library
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DWICA: Across The Decades
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African Caribbean people that achieved Justice of the Peace (JP) Name
Date
Mr. Charles Hill
1969
Mr. Caleb C. McBean
1982
Mrs. Edna Williamson
1983
Mr. George Mighty
1990
Mrs. Maureen Mosley
2005
Mrs. Sharon Sewell (Scott)
2007
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DWICA: Across The Decades
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Visit from dignitaries A truly historic visit, both Jamaica Governor General and Jamaica High Commissioner visited Derby West Indian Community Association cultural centre to meet the membership on Wednesday 19th August 1998.
Photo below shows the members in attendance
Signing DWICA Official Visitors' Book
Signing DWICA Official Visitors' Book
(left) Jamaica High Commissioner Rt Hon Mr Derrick Heaven (left) Mr George Mighty DWICA Chairman (the longest serving Association Chairman from 1986 to present) addressing the membership (right) Mr Solomon 'Ricky' Walters previous DWICA Chairman choosing from a wide range of food
OBE & MBE achievements
George Mighty MBE (1990)
Nezrine Hudson MBE (1998)
Milton Crosdale OBE (2001)
Angella Mighty MBE (2010)
Lloyd Newby MBE (2014)
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Carnival Productions
Tel: 01332 371529 Email: info@dwica.co.uk www.dwica.co.uk
DWICA Carrington Street Derby DE1 2ND