Book Reading of the Necktie Man by Navel Clarke

In Black History Month we hosted a Book Reading of Navel Clarke’s The Necktie Man at our Brixton branch. 

Navel Clarke is a Windrush generation UK immigrant, former Government of Jamaica Senator, trade unionist, workers’ rights pioneer and advocate.

The book shares the inspiring story of his life as a young immigrant who sailed from Jamaica to Britain in 1955 on the SS Castle Verde. It gives insight into his experience and rise to prominence as an advocate of the working class. On his return to Jamaica, he continued his advocacy and eventually organised Jamaica’s largest white-collar union UCASE (Union of Clerical, Administrative and Supervisory Employees).

The attendees all received a signed copy of the book at the event. 

Author and Peer in House of Lords Baroness Floella Benjamin was one of the special guests at the function. Also a Windrush generation immigrant, she shared some engaging stories about her own experience as a child immigrant who sailed to England in 1960 from Trinidad & Tobago. She referred to one of her books a memoir ‘Coming to England’ which is now used to teach modern history to young people and was made into a film by CBBC in 2005. Each attendee also received a copy of this book.

The event was moderated by JN Bank UK’s Deputy CEO Paulette Simpson.