Wells Cathedral hosts tapestry highlighting Black British history

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Carys NallyWest of England

Paula Ogun Hector created the Tapestry of Black Britons to show the UK is “all one fabric”

Paula Ogun Hector Ms Hector stands to the left of the tapestry, looking on at it. She has a bright pink jacket on, a blue and yellow scarf and wears braids. The tapestry is blue and yellow in colour and features different faces. — Paula Ogun Hector created the Tapestry of Black Britons to show the UK is “all one fabric”

The artist behind a tapestry highlighting the wartime service of Black Britons has said it is part of efforts to tell a “missing” story.

Artist Paula Ogun Hector, who led the multi-participant project, said the exhibition “spotlights inclusive British history”.

Wells Cathedral in Somerset, will display the 4m (13ft) long tapestry as part of the Tapestry of Black Britons exhibition until the 29 November.

The “striking” artwork has been created to recognise the wartime service of Black British, Caribbean and African service personnel, marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the war, said organisers.

The art, inspired by the Bayeux Tapestry and African woven traditions, was made by Bristol-based textile company Dash and Miller and includes the work of embroiderer Jacky Puzey.

Ms Hector said: “This evolving artwork not only celebrates the African diaspora contributions to British culture, politics and society, but is also designed to show that, out of many threads, we are one fabric.

“This project is part of lots of ongoing efforts to weave in the story that’s been missing.”

The tapestry features the national flower of Barbados, Pride of Barbados or Caesalpinia pulcherrima, embroidered by Jacky Puzey

Paula Ogun Hector Image of the tapestry, with blue, cream and yellow stitching with faces of Wolrd War 2 veterans looking out to the viewer. — The tapestry features the national flower of Barbados, Pride of Barbados or Caesalpinia pulcherrima, embroidered by Jacky Puzey

‘Really special’

The tapestry features notable people such as Lilian Bader, the first black woman to join the British Armed Forces, and centenarian Prince Albert Jacob.

Mr Jacob, of Knowle, West Midlands, joined the RAF in 1943 and travelled to the US and then England repairing planes.

The veteran found himself in the tapestry while it was on show in Birmingham during Black History Month.

Ms Hector said: “He’s probably one of maybe two people who was still alive in that tapestry. That was really special.”

The artist added her intention had been for the exhibition to act as a “trigger” for engagement as more people came forward with their diverse family histories.

A photo banner was created by the creative director to include these new faces as their stories were told by descendants. It was shown at Bristol Beacon in November.

Kalpna Woolf, the High Sheriff of Bristol, sent in an image of her father for the banner.

Om Prakesh Dutta was 21 when he went to fight alongside British soldiers on the Burmese front from 1944 to 1948.

Ms Woolf, who submitted an image of her father Om Prakesh Dutta in uniform, stands next to his image, which is to her right side in light pink hue

Kalpna Woolf Ms Woolf stands in front of a montage of faces making up the photo banner. Each person's picture is a different colour. Ms Woolf wears a black jacket with a blue jumper underneath. She has a medal around her neck with a blue and white tie and a gold medal. — Ms Woolf, who submitted an image of her father Om Prakesh Dutta in uniform, stands next to his image, which is to her right side in light pink hue

Ms Woolf said more than 2.5 million Indians went to war in World War Two to help with the “allied effort”.

“[It] included people from so many different countries, it wasn’t just Europe or America, or Britain,” said Ms Woolf.

“It was all these people who stood up because they believed in the British Empire. Because they wanted to fight for what they thought was a just cause.”

Mr Dutta, who died aged 68, moved to the UK after the war to start a new life having been granted citizenship for fighting alongside British personnel.

Ms Woolf said: “I like to tell this story because it shares the ties that we have… that history runs deep.

“It doesn’t start with people arriving on a boat.”

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