Sam King MBE

Southwark’s first black mayor

Born in Jamaica in 1926, Sam King first came to England during the war in 1944 where he was stationed with the RAF in Scotland. Against his wishes, he was sent back to Jamaica after the war but returned shortly afterwards on the Empire Windrush in 1948.

Sam rejoined the RAF in 1948 and served until 1953, after which he worked for the Post Office. In 1950 he and his brother were the second black family in Southwark to buy their own home. Sam married Mavis Kirlew at Emmanuel Church on Camberwell Road in 1954.

Sam became involved in his local community in the mid 1950s and became circulation manager of the Brixton based West Indian Gazette. It was this monthly newspaper that spearheaded the cultural event that celebrated Britain’s Black Caribbean communities which has since grown to become the Notting Hill Carnival.

Sam served as a Labour councillor for Bellenden Ward between 1982 and 1986. Although there were other Black councillors in Southwark at the time, Sam was the first to become Mayor in 1983.

Since retirement Sam has moved to Bexley and become leader of a Pentecostal church. In 1998 he received an MBE from the Queen for his services to the community.

Vote here

You can vote for Sam King by email and post using the details below.

vote4icons@southwark.gov.uk
Blue Plaques
Southwark Council
15 Spa Road
London
SE16 3QW

Further information

More information about Sam King can found in the book Speak of Me As I Am - The Black Presence in Southwark Since 1600 by local historian, Stephen Bourne which is available from Southwark Libraries.