Sam King (1926 - )

At an Imperial War Museum exhibition 

Profile: Sam King was born in Jamaica, and was a R.A.F. serviceman during World War 2. Later, in 1948 he later travelled back to the UK on the HMS Empire Windrush joining a considerable number of people journeying to Britain.  In the mid 1980's he became the first Black Mayor of Southwark.

Plaque Location: 2 Warmington Road, Herne Hill, London, SE24 9LA

Plaque inscription: ‘Mayor of Southwark, 1983-84, Wartime RAF Serviceman, Passenger on the Empire Windrush, West Indian Community Leader + Christian advocate lived here 1958-1984’

RAF uniform

First Black Mayor of Southwark

A tireless campaigner for the community he was part of the organisers who set up the first Notting Hill Carnival, and was also a active supporter of the first Black British newspaper, the West Indian Gazette, edited by Claudia Jones.