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JULY 2025 • ISSUE NO. 1968
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Pedal power Black Unity Bike Ride grows from grassroots event to national ›› p33 celebration
A FEARLESS VOICE FOR JUSTICE Courtenay Griffiths KC 1955 - 2025
He mentored, he challenged, he led.
A courageous and principled defender of justice across divides, Courtenay Griffiths KC shattered barriers and inspired many. Since his passing, moving tributes have poured in for one of the most influential legal minds of our time, whose voice spoke powerfully for Black Britain and beyond. ›› p4-5 & 12
10 | THE VOICE JULY 2025
Tribute
SIR GEOFF PALMER: A GIANT OF JUSTICE AND INTELLECT
Trailblazing scientist who exposed Scotland’s colonial past leaves behind an ‘inspirational’ legacy. By Vic Motune
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HROUGHOUT HIS career, Sir Geoff Palmer, who passed away last month at the age of 85, earned a reputation as both a trailblazing scientist and a fearless advocate for racial justice. From his pioneering work in brewing science to his unwavering commitment to exposing Scotland’s colonial past, he changed institutions – and lives. He leaves behind a legacy described as “inspirational,” “transformative,” and “unforgettable.” Professor Richard A Williams, principal and vice-chancellor of Heriot-Watt University – where Sir Geoff spent much of his professional life – said that his passing marked “a sad day for this university and for everyone who knew Sir Geoff. He was an inspiration not just to me, but to colleagues past and present, and countless students around the world.” Sir Geoff ’s story is one of resilience and brilliance. Born in St Elizabeth, Jamaica, in 1940 he arrived in the UK in 1955 as part of the Windrush generation, joining his mother in London at a time when Black people faced deep hostility in Britain. He spoke candidly of the
FAMILY MAN: Professor Palmer with his youngest granddaughter next to James Watt’s statue on the HeriotWatt University’s campus in Edinburgh
GIFTED: Born in Jamaica in 1940, Sir Geoff Palmer made history by becoming Scotland’s first Black professor (photo: PA Images)
racism he encountered while trying to rent a room in Edinburgh in the early 1960s where he arrived as a research student — experiences that sharpened his resolve to challenge injustice and push open doors for others. Sir Geoff would go on to become Scotland’s first Black professor, an internationally renowned academic, and a courageous public voice in the campaign for racial equality. POTENTIAL After leaving school, the young Geoff Palmer who showed a keen interest in science, secured a position as a junior laboratory technician at Queen Elizabeth College in Kensington. He worked under Professor Garth Chapman, who recognised his potential and encouraged him to improve his qualifications and apply for university. He became a student at the University of Leicester in 1961, graduating with a degree in Botany in 1964. Sir Geoff later completed a PhD in grain science and technology jointly with Heriot-Watt College and the University of Edinburgh. His breakthrough invention, the barley abrasion process,
transformed the malting industry and earned him the American Society of Brewing Chemists Award of Distinction – considered the “Nobel Prize” of brewing. In 1989, he made history by becoming Scotland’s first Black professor. Sir Geoff was made an OBE in the 2003 Birthday Honours list. In 2021, he was appointed chancellor of HeriotWatt University. His work helped establish the International Centre for Brewing and Distilling, making the university a world leader in the field. But it was Sir Geoff ’s work beyond the laboratory that cemented his place in the public’s heart. He became a passionate campaigner for racial justice and historical truth. In 2020, amid the global reckoning sparked by the Black Lives Matter movement, he was invited by the City of Edinburgh Council to chair a review into the city’s legacy of slavery and colonialism. His group made ten landmark recommendations, including a formal apology and educational reforms to acknowledge Edinburgh’s links to the slave trade. “I believe that if you remove
the evidence, you remove the deed,” Sir Geoff once said, opposing calls to take down controversial monuments. Instead, he advocated for contextual plaques and public education – a position that helped shape the city’s response to its colonial past. He also successfully campaigned for a plaque at the Court of Session commemorating the landmark 1778 Knight v Wedderburn ruling, which declared slavery unsupported by Scots law. At the time, he said the plaque meant a “tremendous amount” to him.
“Sir Geoff made a vital contribution to recognising and profiling Edinburgh’s links with slavery and colonialism in the public realm”
IMPACT In 2014, he was knighted for services to science, human rights and charity. He later became Jamaica’s first honorary consul in Scotland and was awarded the Order of Distinction (Commander Class) by the Jamaican government. Just last year, he received Scotland’s highest royal honour, the Order of the Thistle. The tributes since his death reflect the immense impact he had on individuals, institutions and national life. Scottish Labour MSP Foysol
Choudhury, who regarded Sir Geoff as a mentor and “father figure”, said: “He was not only a distinguished scientist and academic, but also a courageous voice for justice and equality… Geoff wasn’t just my dad’s best friend, he took me under his wing as a teen and continued to inspire me his entire life.” First Minister John Swinney described Sir Geoff as “a pioneer and an outstanding intellectual” who “had a hugely positive
impact on Scotland and will be sorely missed.” The Lord Provost of Edinburgh, Robert Aldridge, said: “Sir Geoff made a vital contribution to recognising and profiling the capital’s links with slavery and colonialism in the public realm. His legacy in academia and activism will live on for years to come.” Community justice charity Sacro, where Sir Geoff served on the board for seven years, credited him with making the organisation “the diverse and inclusive organisation it is today.” In a statement, the charity said: “Sir Geoff was a gifted scientist and academic, but we will always remember how passionately he taught us the importance of equality, fairness and justice.” Sir Geoff is survived by his wife Margaret, their three children and grandchildren. His family have asked for privacy at this difficult time. From scientific halls to public forums, Sir Geoff Palmer broke barriers and built bridges. As a pioneer, professor, and principled voice of the Windrush generation, his impact will continue to shape Scotland – and beyond – for many years to come.
JULY 2025
THE VOICE | 11
Special Feature
ADVERTORIAL
Befriend someone on death row
“
Picture: Equal Justice Initiative
Even with the knowledge of the crime my penfriend was convicted of, I see no ethical dilemma in upholding his humanity.
Bryan Stevenson (left) and Anthony Ray Hinton (right)
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oah Mayo has been writing to his penfriend, Lee, on death row in the United States for two years after joining the UK registered charity, LifeLines. A law student from Chicago, Noah heard about the charity while studying in Oxford on an international exchange. Established in 1988, LifeLines supports and befriends people on death row in the United States through letter writing and email. Founder Jan Arriens was inspired by watching the 1987 BBC documentary Fourteen Days in May. The programme followed a young black man, Edward Earl Johnson, in the days before his execution and the attempts of Clive Stafford Smith to save his life (Stafford Smith is now a renowned human rights lawyer and LifeLines’s patron). Moved by the humanity he and the other men interviewed showed, Arriens wrote to them, and LifeLines was born. Today it has nearly 1,000 members, mostly UKbased but with an international contingent. Now back in the US studying law, Noah explains he joined LifeLines because he
H
Noah Mayo
saw writing to someone on death row as, “a great opportunity to have an important and immediate impact in the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in our society.” While LifeLines does not take a position on the death penalty, members have their own views. For Noah, his opposition to the death penalty is a key driver for writing to Lee, as their relationship ensures he doesn’t forget why change is needed. He also reflects that policy change “cannot be done in a single day. Yet today we can exchange a childhood memory with a penfriend and realize it does not differ all that much, or we can learn his favorite poems, or remind him of his dignity.” Noah, like many LifeLines members, makes clear it’s not just Lee who benefits from their correspondence. At 61-yearsold to Noah’s 23-years, Lee is old enough to be Noah’s grandfather. “It has been wonderful to hear his advice and to listen to what he would have done differently at various stages of his life”, Noah reflects. “He also reminds me to focus on what will remain important over the long term. … This has been quite an important lesson.”
Noah preparing to make a rug at a tufting art shop, inspired by Lee who started attending an art class in prison
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adly, the state where Lee is imprisoned recently began carrying out executions again. “There was a heavy tension and much stress for many upon learning the news”, Noah says Lee told him. While he was encouraged to learn that Lee believes “his appeals will likely outlast his life”, anyone joining LifeLines needs to be prepared for the possibility their penfriend could be executed. For support with this and other difficulties members might encounter, LifeLines provides a caring community, access to volunteer counsellors and a dedicated coordinator for each state. Members also have the chance to hear from inspiring speakers at twice yearly conferences. Like Anthony Ray Hinton, who spent nearly 30 years on Alabama’s death row before being exonerated, and Equal Justice Initiative director and public interest lawyer Bryan Stevenson, who fought for Hinton’s freedom.
UK registered charity: 1168273
inton is one of nearly 200 people released from death row for crimes they didn’t commit and, like many of them, racial bias was a significant factor in his case. This bias is a thread that runs throughout the death penalty and can be seen in the fact that 40% of people on death row across the US are black, despite black people making up only 13.7% of the US population. Given everything that people on death row face, it is not hard to imagine why letters or emails from the outside world are so treasured, as Noah knows they are for Lee. “It has been a pleasure getting to know Lee over the past two years and I will keep writing him because he has shared with me how much our relationship means to his life, and I know what it means to mine.” If you too want to make a difference through developing powerful connections with others, then LifeLines is for you. Become a member and bring light to someone in the darkest of places. For more information or to join, visit:
https://lifelines-uk.org.uk/
24 | THE VOICE JULY 2025
Midlands News TOP TEAM: Left to right, Our Community Foundation apprentice Haider Bashir, youth worker Tiana Barnes, Mayor Richard Parker, founder and chief executive Basharat Dad, youth mentor Teyaba Kauser and youth development officer Zain Khan
MAYOR’S FUNDING BOOSTS JOBS, SKILLS AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES
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IGURES RELEASED by Mayor Richard Parker have revealed how the lives of 800,000 residents across the West Midlands have been improved thanks to funding for more than 400 community-led projects. The projects shared £13 million from the Inclusive Communities Fund and the Community Environment Fund to host hundreds of events that brought communities together. The funding was also used to run thousands of hours of free activities to get people more active and improve their health and wellbeing. Local facilities like community centres, sports pitches and performing arts centres have also been upgraded and modernised,
800,000 residents to benefit across the West Midlands as £13 million is awarded to more than 400 grassroots groups
and nature sites created or enhanced. The grants of between £500 and £300,000 have helped create hundreds of jobs and train thousands of people, giving them new skills to get a job or volunteering role. An evaluation, published recently, has highlighted the far-reaching benefits of the two funds. These include: l 635,000 people taking part in thousands of hours of free arts, sports or nature-based events
and activities or benefiting from better facilities where they live l 700 jobs created l 4,000 people gaining a new qualification or learning new job skills including sustainability, and climate literacy and advocacy courses l 2,000 new volunteers recruited l 2,300 tree saplings planted l 160,000 more people now living within a 15-minute walk of an improved nature site
The Mayor visited Our Community Foundation in Alum Rock in Birmingham to find out how it is supporting his plans to tackle youth unemployment using £75,000 from the Inclusive Communities Fund to run more sports and mentoring programmes. The Mayor said: “We’ve put £13 million into 400 grassroots groups. That’s an astonishing 800,000 lives improved with better physical and mental wellbeing, new skills, improved job prospects, and brighter futures. “I saw for myself how Our Community Foundation is tapping into the unique ability of sport to bring young people together in East Birmingham and set them on exciting new paths
in life. My Growth for Everyone plan is about making sure no one is left behind, and that’s why we are breaking down barriers to create real opportunities, better life chances, and healthier, more sustainable
I saw how Our Community Foundation is tapping into the ability of sport to bring young people together – West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker
communities for generations to come.” The Inclusive Communities Fund and the Community Environment Fund were part of the West Midlands Combined Authority’s (WMCA) Commonwealth Games Legacy Enhancement Fund with money from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government. The legacy fund was set up to pay for projects that ensured the positive and long-lasting legacy from the Birmingham 2022 Games would be felt right across the region. l Read more at www.wmca.org.
uk/what-we-do/commonwealthgames-legacy-enhancement-fund/
JULY 2025 THE VOICE | 25
By Maxine Huie
FEELING THE LOVE THROUGH THE POWER OF CULTURE
Community music and arts group striving for everyone to be happy, regardless of circumstances WHAT BEGAN as a response to personal struggle, has grown into a powerful community movement championing creativity, inclusion, and mental wellbeing. One Love Community Music and Arts CIC, a Black-led organisation founded in 2017, is making waves in Bloxwich with its unique approach to community care through arts and culture. Founded by three individuals with lived experience of depression and personal adversity, One Love was born out of a shared frustration. Experiencing the lack of welcoming, meaningful spaces for adults to connect beyond the usual social settings of pubs and parks, their answer was to create something different – a coffee shop that doubles as a creative hub, offering daily activities in music, art, and social connection. Inclusivity and diversity have been central to the initiative from the start. Positioned as a supportive and safe space for people, One Love has established itself as a trusted cultural anchor. The One Love coffee shop, now a cornerstone of the Bloxwich community, offers more than hot drinks – it provides a sense of purpose and solidarity for those dealing with mental health challenges or simply seeking human connection. The organisation’s activities
REAPING THE REWARDS: We Are Jamming and African Caribbean Men’s Group are two of the local groups that meet at One Love Community Music and Arts ranges from Arts & Crafts, Pilates, to music jams, yoga and a variety of community events, each designed to foster resilience, friendship and a sense of belonging. The journey has not been without challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted in-person gatherings, yet the organisation has remained committed to its identity as a Black-led initiative, ensuring that its core values and mission remain intact.
Through resilience and adaptability, One Love has secured funding from various sources, including Awards for All, the National Lottery’s Reaching Communities Fund, and Power to Change-Umbel Initiative. Further to this in 2024, the organisation secured National Lottery Heritage funding to support its work in Bloxwich, where it relocated after the pandemic. Additional grants, such as the Inclusive Community funding from the Heart of
England and support from Walsall Council, have allowed One Love to expand and address community needs effectively. With a dedicated team that shares its values and ethos, One Love Community Music and Arts CIC continues to champion its mission: that everyone deserves happiness and a meaningful life, regardless of circumstances. At the helm is Founder and Director of Operations Richard Clarke, a seasoned social entrepreneur
with decades of community service under his belt. He has been instrumental in establishing community projects across Wolverhampton and Walsall since the 1990s Richard began his career as a youth worker at the African Caribbean Community Centre in Wolverhampton, where he helped create the first Youth Movement there. This involved launching one of the first talent shows which was covered by The Voice newspaper in 1987. He
later spent 15 years with NACRO, engaging young offenders in alternative provision, before founding the Multimedia Arts Project for alternative education. As One Love continues to grow, its mission remains unchanged: to empower people through culture, care, and community. In an era where safe, inclusive spaces are more important than ever, One Love stands as a beacon of what’s possible when lived experience meets grassroots leadership and community love.
From the streets to the stage: how faith and theatre transformed the life of Dion Farrell RAISED IN the Midlands by his grandmother, Dion Farrell grew up in tough circumstances that mirrored the challenges many in our community know all too well. Church played a role in his early life, but like many teenagers, he found himself drifting away, unable to fully connect to church life. “I always believed in God,” he says, “but I found myself more attracted to life outside church.” It wasn’t until he turned 21 that everything changed. A new desire for the Lord led him to become a born-again Christian – and with it, he discovered a gift that would impact the lives of thousands.
A calling to write That gift was writing. What began as a way to support local churches through fundraising plays, soon became something far bigger. “I realised every time I put on plays, they were well attended and people would give their lives to the Lord at each show,” he reflects. Dion realised at that point that this was bigger than he had ever imagined, and his shows were reaching others with a positive message of hope and transformation. His passion gave birth to Farrell Productions, a company that now produces Christian plays and comedy shows across theatres
and venues in the Midlands. By using local talent such as singers, musicians, actors, set designers and more, his productions have become a platform for both ministry and creative expression in the community.
Breaking barriers Despite theatre once being frowned upon in some Christian circles, his shows have consistently drawn large crowds. “We have been told by many that our productions were the first theatre experience they’d ever had,” he said. Today, his shows regularly
attract around 1,000 attendees — many of whom don’t attend church but find connection, inspiration, and even salvation through the performances. Next up: ‘Samson’ – one day only The next production, Samson, will bring the powerful story of the biblical strongman to life on stage at the Bethel Convention Centre on Saturday, 16 August 2025. Tickets are available now at www.samsonplay.uk. The message from Farrell Productions is clear: whether you’re a Christian or just curious, you are welcome!
INSPIRING: Dion Farrell