BRENT HEROES

Click through the list below to find out about the achievements of these heroes from the Black community with a connection to Brent.

Allyson Williams MBE

In 2002, Allyson Williams was recognised with an MBE for her Outstanding Contribution to the Development of Midwifery Service in London. She was Deputy Head of Midwifery at University College Hospital until her retirement. She has also played an active role in Notting Hill Carnival since 1975.

Alton Ellis

Alton Ellis, a Jamaican reggae icon, spent much time in Brent, performing, and recording for many Brent labels including Pama, Venture and Lord Koos. Tony Gad, a member of the Reggae band Aswad, first met Janet Kay at the Gangsterville record shop, where Aswad used to rehearse. Aswad recommended Janet to Alton Ellis, who provided her with her first recording, with the 1977 cover of ‘Loving You’. She later duetted with Alton on ‘Still in Love’.

Amanda Epe MBE – Fly Girls Wellness

Amanda Epe is a multi-award-winning author, poet, and writing coach. Her memoir ‘A Fly Girl Travel Tales’ is listed in The Mirror's best travel books to read in 2020. Amanda has over two decades delivering creative education with SEN, BAME, all-girl groups/ all-female groups/ female groups, and mainstream students in schools and community settings. She has delivered talks/presentations in schools on human rights equality for International Women’s Day, End Violence Against Women Day, and Black History Month. The sessions and talks help to promote self-esteem, confidence, equality, and mental well-being as well as to develop literacy. She has testimonies from her Black, Asian minority, and refugee students that have become authors. She founded the FLY GIRLS' UK project in 2016, and was awarded Run Group & Leader of the Year by England Athletics in 2017, Pride of Brent in 2019, BEM Queen's Honour 2021 for services to empower girls and women.

Anthony 'Chip' Richards

Anthony ‘Chips’ Richards is an international ambassador for the Jamaican music industry. Richards is an undisputed pioneer insofar as it relates to the promoting, spreading and disseminating of Jamaica’s reggae music to various corners of the globe. Richards most notable role was as marketing and promotions manager for the larger-than-life Trojan Records in 1973.

Arthur Wint

In 1948, Arthur Wint from Jamaica won Jamaica's first Olympic gold medal for the 400 metres (46.2 seconds) at Wembley. He also won silver in the 800 metres in 1948. Arthur Wint, known as the Gentle Giant, was born in Plowden, Manchester, Jamaica. While at Calabar High School, he ran sprints and did both the high jump and long jump. In 1937, he was the Jamaica Boy Athlete of the year, and the following year won a gold medal in the 800 metres at the Central American Games in Panama. He saved the money for his flight to Europe. In 1942, he joined the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan and set the Canadian 400-metre record while training there. He was sent to Britain for active combat during World War II as a pilot. He left the Royal Air Force in 1947 to attend St Bartholomew's Hospital, London, as a medical student. After winning gold at the Olympics in 1948, he went on to set further records in Helsinki in 1952. In 1953, he ran his final race in 1953 at Wembley Stadium, finished his internship, and graduated as a doctor. The following year he was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) by Queen Elizabeth II in the 1954 New Year Honours. In 1955, Wint returned to Jamaica, eventually settling in Hanover as the only resident doctor in the parish. In 1973, he was awarded the Jamaica honour of the Order of Distinction. He served as Jamaica's High Commissioner to Britain and ambassador to Sweden and Denmark from 1974 to 1978. He was inducted in the Black Athlete's Hall of Fame in the US (1977), the Jamaica Sports Hall of Fame (1989) and the Central American & Caribbean Athletic Confederation Hall of Fame (2003).

Ashley Thomas / Bashy

Ashley Thomas, (a.k.a. 'Bashy') is an actor and a rapper. He was born in Hammersmith, West London, the first born of a Jamaican mother and Dominican father. He attended St. Mary's of the Angels RC Primary School. Aged eleven, his family moved to Kensal Rise, northwest London and he attended Cardinal Hinsley High School. Thomas attended The BRIT School for Performing Arts as a theatre student. Before becoming an actor and musician, Thomas worked as a postman for the Royal Mail and later as a London Bus driver. He released a single 'Black Boys' in 2007, and an album Catch me if you can, in 2009. As an actor he performed in Adulthood, 2008 (the sequel to the film Kidulthood) and has gone on to star in a number of TV dramas and films including Black Mirror and more recently, Them.

ASWAD

Aswad were the first British reggae band to be signed by Island Records, based in Brent. Their underground favourite 'Warrior Charge', is one of reggae's best instrumentals. The band was awarded the MOBO Awards 2000 Outstanding Contribution To Black Music gong. Although the longest and most commercial phase of this reggae band has been represented by vocalist/guitarist Brinsley Forde, drummer/vocalist Drummie Zeb, and bassist Tony Gad, the others that formed the quintet launched by Island Records in the mid-1970s were bassist George Oban, guitarist Donald Griffiths and keyboardist Courtney Hemmings. Today, Aswad are known more for their crossover hits 'Shine' and 'Give A Little Love' and the 1988 chart-topping 'Don't Turn Around', rather than the more rootsy 'Back To Africa'.

Audley Harrison

Audley Harrison was the first boxer to win Olympic Gold in Superheavyweight Division in the UK, when he represented Great Britain as an amateur at the 2000 Olympics. He grew up on the Stonebridge Estate, and later developed his boxing skills in Bethnal Green, east London. After the Olympics in 2000 he turned professional. In his subsequent career he challenged for the WBA, British, and Commonwealth heavyweight titles. In 2009, Harrison won the Prizefighter tournament, his first of two. He became the European heavyweight champion in 2010, after defeating Michael Sprott in a rematch of their 2007 bout. In 2013, Harrison won his second Prizefighter tournament, becoming the first boxer to do so. In addition to his boxing achievements he has advocated for the importance of education.