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Blue plaque honour for former mayor
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FIRST: Sam King
A BLUE plaque was unveiled recently in honour of Southwark’s first black mayor.
Sam King MBE, the first ever black mayor in the south London borough, was voted by the people of the area last year to receive the honour.
Jamaican-born King arrived in the UK in 1948 on the Empire Windrush and quickly settled in Southwark. He worked as a campaigner for the black community, helping to set up the first Notting Hill Carnival, and was also a driving force behind the first black newspaper, the West Indian Gazette.
After six months serving as a local councillor in Southwark, King was elected mayor in 1983, making him the only serving black mayor in London at the time.
Councillor Lewis Robinson, executive member for culture leisure and sport at Southwark Council, said King is deserving of the plague.
“Sam really is an example to us all, and I believe this honour is deserved on so many levels for his community work, his campaigning for black and ethnic minority rights, and for his service to the people of Southwark during his time at the council,” he said.
Local historian and writer Stephen Bourne said King’s contribution to black history was immense.
“The role that Sam King played in the field of black history is hard to overestimate. His achievements speak for themselves but are all the more impressive for having been accomplished in the difficult times of post-war Britain,” he stated.
King, who attended the unveiling of the plague at 2 Warmington Road, in Herne Hill, said:
“I’m really grateful to be receiving this plaque. As a place Southwark is second to none and the people here have always been helpful and they treated me well. I feel lucky to have been asked to be the mayor of Southwark, and to have had the chance to do work in the community. And this plaque is a lovely honour.”
Published: 31 January 2010
Issue: 1408
