'Never mind the obstacles, work around it'

A woman who made history when she was elected as Wolverhampton's first African-Caribbean councillor in 1981 has spoken about the obstacles faced by the Windrush generation and how she forged her own career.

Mel Chevannes was speaking as the city prepared to unveil a bronze bust of her on Windrush Day.

She said she hoped the bust, created by sculptor Hannah Northam, would show others what is possible.

"Never mind the obstacles, never mind people picking on you because of your colouring or your skin or your gender, find other people who are supportive and work around it," she said.

City council papers said the pioneer was not only Wolverhampton's first black councillor but also the first black female university professor.

Wolverhampton MP Sureena Brackenridge said in the Commons Prof Chevannes had "not only opened doors but shattered glass ceilings".

Windrush Day marks the contributions of the Windrush generation - people from the Caribbean who were invited to the UK to help rebuild post-war Britain.

The first ship, HMT Empire Windrush, docked in Tilbury, Essex, in 1948, with hundreds of passengers on board.

Prof Chevannes said that generation had "overcome tremendous obstacles, more so than I and many others have experienced, and if it hadn't been for them, we wouldn't be here".

She said: "These were the people who experienced racial discrimination at first hand, couldn't get housing accommodation – they literally shared beds.

"I know things have changed, but nevertheless there are still people who are treated very badly on the basis of their colour. No-one should be treated badly because of the colouring of their skin."

In 1981, The Times reported how Chevannes held the Graiseley ward for Labour with 1,887 votes, beating Roger Steel, from the newly-formed Social Democratic Party – a group that had broken away from Labour – with 1,114.

Remembering how she had Caribbean, Asian and white supporters, she said she had been the first black woman to stand in the ward.

It had been seen as an "easy capture" for the new party, Prof Chevannes said, but added: "It didn't happen and in fact people were really wonderful."

She described how as chair of the social services committee, she worked to help young people, families and people facing difficulties.

She served as a councillor for 11 years and later chaired The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust.

Her statue will the first in England to honour a named black woman still living, Prof Chevannes said.

A statue of Jamaican-born Mary Seacole was believed to be the UK's first in honour of a named black woman in 2016.

Seacole, who nursed soldiers in the Crimean War, died in 1881.

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