UK's first black female Olympian in new exhibition

An exhibition of art and photography to celebrate Black History Month has been opened by Britain’s first female black Olympian.

Anita Neil competed in the women's 100m and 4x100m metres relay team in Mexico City in 1968, aged just 18, and at the Munich Games four years later.

The free exhibition, which runs until the end of October at the Castle Theatre in her home town of Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, features photographs from her personal collection alongside work submitted by local creatives.

"I feel proud and honoured to be part of it," said the 74-year-old, who was appointed MBE for her services to athletics.

Black History Month was first recognised in the UK in 1987.

Neil said: "I marvel at what they do. So many gifted people are not recognised, it needs to be brought to the forefront.

"I don't really believe it should be just for one month, it should be the whole of the year."

The photographs Neil has chosen to include in the exhibition depict pivotal moments in her life and career, including a photograph taken of her on the starting block at the 1972 Olympics.

Other pictures show Neil during a training session and alongside Maureen Tranter, Anita Neil, Lillian Board and Janet Simpson, after competing in the 1968 Olympic 4x100m relay. There is also an image of Neil with British 100m Olympic champion, Linford Christie, that was taken when they met at a track event in Birmingham.

Artist Esme Layne, one of the Wellingborough residents who submitted work, said the exhibition is a "public representation of black Britishness".

Growing up during the seventies and eighties, Esme says she experienced racism that left her "with a sense of not belonging".

She said: "While I consider myself a black British artist, my ancestry is Caribbean, Barbadian, as well as Nigerian origin.

"Those aspects of me heavily inform my art because I think I am constantly on a search for who I am."

Esme's oil on canvas self-portrait, which she describes as "honest" and "authentic", is on display in the theatre’s gallery alongside hand-drawn sketches and collages.

"For the painting, I've used Nigerian markings on my face, which I've changed so they feel right to me. That's part of my DNA."

She said the black community has been “under-represented” in art, which she said can have more impact than words.

Commenting on the significance of Black History Month in the community, Glen Bell, who organised the "important" exhibition, said "lots of people don’t feel heard or recognised”.

For many of the artists taking part, it is the first time they have felt "confident" enough to share their work publicly.

By including photographs of local Windrush Day commemorative events, he hopes the exhibition will educate visitors about the history and lived experiences of the black community, as well as the contributions they have made.

"Photography gives people a chance to see history," he said.

When asked to reveal his favourite piece in the exhibition, Glen said: "It's one of Anita's photographs, of Linford Christie. He was one of my icons growing up."

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