A TALK on black people’s contribution to British history was attended by members of Mid Worcestershire’s Labour Party.

Members learned how a black Roman Emperor ruled Britain and died in York centuries before the Anglo Saxons came to these islands, and how there was a black trumpeter who performed at the coronation of Henry the Eighth.

This was covered by historian Dr Tony Talburt, of City University Birmingham, in the first of three Zoom talks on October 1st to mark the start of Black History Month.

David Haslam, Chair of Evesham Labour Party, said ‘It was good to have a wide range of people attending, from various political parties, churches and community groups, showing the increasing interest in the true breadth of our British history’.

Sue Wood-Griffiths, an Evesham participant, said ‘Tony was so compelling. I am not a lover of history but after tonight I am really keen to research this topic further’.

Misan McFarland, Mid Worcestershire Labour’s BAME lead, who helped to organise the event, was delighted by the response. She said, ‘Dr Talburt’s talk has inspired me and others to look at ways to help schools and organisations in Worcestershire to learn more about Black British history as an integral part of our shared past.’

Black History Month is now well established in schools as an annual event but this year it has been given added reach and momentum by the Black Lives Matter campaigns across the world. For example, Sir Keir Starmer, Labour’s new leader, used the opportunity of Black History Month to express his ‘admiration for the Black Britons who have helped shape our country’s history and culture’.

Details of the two further sessions on the evenings of November 5th and December 3rd can be obtained from midworcsclp@gmail.com