Blue Plaque honouring UK’s first ever Caribbean Carnival is unveiled

On 26 June, guests gathered in the Claudia Jones Room – named in honour of the Carnival’s organiser – to witness the first-ever unveiling of a blue plaque at Camden Town Hall. The plaque marks not only a celebration of history, but also Camden’s role in shaping it.

Following speeches from special guests and Camden Cabinet Members Cllrs Sabrina Francis and Nadia Shah, guests were treated to performances from the Camden Music Service Steel Band and powerful poetry by the young people of Argyle Primary School. The event was hosted by artist and educator Linett Kamala, with moving reflections shared by carnival veteran Allyson Williams MBE as well as Beverley Reviero-Awonaya – Public Affairs, Culture and Tourism Officer at the High Commission of Trinidad and Tobago.

Outside, the Mayor of Camden addressed the crowd before unveiling the plaque to guests and lucky passers-by – a fitting tribute to a legacy that began at the very steps of Camden Town Hall.

History of the UK’s first Caribbean Carnival

During the 1950s, amid rising racial tensions which escalated into the Notting Hill riots, activist Claudia Jones organised the first Caribbean Carnival to provide a joyful, defiant safe space for cultural expression and community resilience.

Held at the Town Hall and televised by the BBC, the carnival featured steel bands, calypso singing, a beauty pageant, a banquet of food and many more Caribbean traditions. The carnival was so successful it continued in London for five years, eventually inspiring the Notting Hill Carnival – one of the world’s largest street festivals, attracting millions of visitors and contributing £93million to London’s economy every year.

At the end of 2023, Claudia Jones was honoured with a blue plaque outside her home in Camden, where she lived from 1955 to 1964. Claudia worked tirelessly for equality and in support of Caribbean communities in London, setting up anti-racism campaigns and Britain’s first Black newspaper (The West Indian Gazette). With the unveiling of the blue plaque outside Camden Town Hall, Claudia Jones’ role in founding Britain’s first Caribbean Carnival is further etched into history.

The plaque unveiling was a commemorative bow in Camden Council’s wider calendar of events marking the 77th anniversary of the arrival of HMS Windrush into Britain. It marked a historical day in British history as well as Camden’s role in it, helping to immortalise the story for new and future generations.