Ulric Cross
Diplomat/JURIST/WAR HERO
Cross was born in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago in 1917, he lived a remarkable life - Cross was a Royal Air Force Navigator, a jurist and a diplomat. He flew over 80 bombing missions (50 was the recommended maximum) and is said to be the most decorated West Indian serviceman of World War II, he was subsequently awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Distinguished Service Order. After the war Cross studied law and was called to the Bar in London in 1949. He left later left law (temporarily) and worked at the BBC as a Talks Producer.
Cross worked in Africa from 1958 to 1971 serving as Crown Counsel and Senior Crown Counsel in Ghana, Senior Crown Counsel and Attorney General in West Cameroon and as a High Court Judge in Tanzania. He also wanted to create a united Africa.
In 1971 Cross returned to Trinidad and Tobago serving as a High Court Judge and then on the Court of Appeals. He later became the Chairman of the Law reform, before becoming the High Commissioner for Trinidad and Tobago in the UK and Ambassador to France and Germany.
In 1993 Cross co founded the charitable non-profit organisation Cotton Tree Foundation to help combat poverty and unemployment within deprived areas of Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. Cross received many awards during his lifetime including the 'Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago', for services to law - the nations highest honour.
Dadabhai Naoroji
POLITICIAN/Educator / Entrepreneur
Naoroji was born in 1825 in Bombay India. He was an educator, author, trader and the first Indian MP in the UK - he was a Liberal MP serving Finsbury Central between 1892 and 1895.
Naoroji is also known for The Drain Theory and Poverty Theory which examined the drain of wealth from India to England during Britain’s colonial rule. In his book ‘Poverty and the Un-British Rule in India’, He spoke about the wealth which benefited the UK, a loss which would not be returned.
Naoroji is affectionately referred to as the ‘Grand Old Man of Indian Nationalism’.
Sir Learie Constantine MBE
POLITICIAN/ Barrister /SPORTSMAN
Constantine was a cricketer, barrister and politician he was Trinidad’s High Commissioner to the UK and the UK’s first black peer. He was born in Diego Martin Trinidad, in 1901. Constantine played for British cricket clubs before the Second World War.
In 1943 Constantine and his family were refused accommodation at a London hotel because of their colour he went on to successfully sue the hotel chain. This was the first time racism was challenged in court -before any Race discrimination act existed. He (and his family) lived in Nelson Lancashire, Bradford and London. Constantine also coached in Dublin Ireland.
In 1954 Constantine qualified as a barrister. He returned to Trinidad where he became the High commissioner to the UK.
peter mclagan
politician
McLagan was a politician, he was born in 1823 in Demerara, British Guiana – the son of a plantation owner and an unknown black woman. McLagan came to the UK to study at the University of Edinburgh.
McLagan became a Member of Parliament for the Liberal party in 1865 representing Linlithgowshire, Scotland - he was Scotland’s first mixed race MP. As an MP McLagan supported the women’s suffrage movement (the campaign for women to get the right to vote in the UK). McLagan was an MP between 1865 and 1893 – he served 28 years!
Sir Macherjee Bhownaggree
POLITICIAN/LAWYER/author
Bhownaggree was an MP, lawyer and author. He was born in 1851 in India and came to England in 1882. In 1895 he was elected as a Conservative member of parliament representing North East Bethnal Green, London. During his time in politics Bhownaggree supported British rule in India.
Outside of politics Bhownaggree was a successful lawyer who was called to the bar in 1885. Bhownaggree was also a writer - he wrote the Gujarati translation of Queen Victoria’s journal Life in the Highlands and the History of the East India Company Constitution.
Bhownaggree became a Knight in 1897 (he was knighted by Queen Victoria!)