Decades 3 & 4 (1968-1987) Part 1

Highlights include:

• In 1968 Dyke & Dryden Ltd was founded in North London, and over 30 years, or a generation, it grew to become the UK’s biggest Black led business in the cosmetics and haircare products sector.
• In 1969 Sir Learie Constantine was made a life peer and entered the House of Lords. He was the first Black person of Caribbean background to become a peer in the House of Lords.
• In 1972 the West Indian Association of Service Personnel, WASP, was founded by a group of Caribbean ex-servicemen.
• In 1975 Dr David Pitt entered the House of Lords as Baron Pitt of Hampstead; and in so doing he became the second peer of Caribbean background in the House of Lords.
• In 1981 Dame Jocelyn Barrow became the first Black woman of Caribbean background to serve as a governor of the BBC; and in 1992 she was made a Dame.
• In 1985 Lord William “Bill” Morris became the Deputy Secretary General of the Transport and General Workers Union or TGWU. He was later made a peer of the House of Lords.
• In 1987 a cohort of four Black MPs entered the House of Commons; they were the first to do so since the modern Black community emerged in the UK. They were Diane Abbott, Bernie Grant, Paul Boateng, and Keith Vas (of Asian British background).