Sam Beaver King facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sam Beaver King
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|---|---|
| Mayor of Southwark | |
| In office 1983–1984 |
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| Preceded by | M Geaton |
| Succeeded by | James Greening |
| Southwark Councillor, Bellenden ward, Peckham | |
| In office 1982–? |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 20 February 1926 Portland, Jamaica |
| Died | 17 June 2016 (aged 90) London, UK |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Labour |
| Occupation | Postal worker and community activist |
| Awards | MBE |
| Nickname | Mr Windrush |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
 Royal Air Force |
| Years of service |
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| Battles/wars | Second World War |
Sam Beaver King MBE (born February 20, 1926 – died June 17, 2016) was a very important person from Jamaica and Britain. He worked hard to help his community. He first came to England as an engineer in the Royal Air Force (RAF) during World War II. He went back to Jamaica in 1947.
When he couldn't settle there, King sailed back to London in 1948. He traveled on the famous ship called the Empire Windrush. Later, he became the first black mayor of Southwark in London. He also worked to support West Indian immigrants in the country. He was often called "Mr. Windrush" because of his work.
Contents
Early Life and Joining the RAF
Sam King was born in a place called Priestman's River in Portland Parish, Jamaica. This was on February 20, 1926. He grew up in a large Christian family with nine brothers and sisters. He helped out on his family's banana farm.
In 1944, when he was 18, King saw an advertisement in a newspaper called The Gleaner. It asked for people to join the British Royal Air Force (RAF) to fight in World War II. He decided to volunteer.
After some training in Kingston, he was sent to an RAF training center in Filey, Yorkshire. Then he moved to RAF Hawkinge, which was a fighter plane base. There, he worked as an engineer, helping to fix planes. In 1947, after the war, he left the RAF and went back home to Jamaica.
Returning to England on the Windrush
Back in Jamaica, Sam King found it hard to get a job and settle down. He saw another advertisement in The Gleaner. This time, it was for tickets on the Empire Windrush ship. This ship was sailing to the UK. He decided to go back to England.
King arrived at Tilbury Docks on June 22, 1948. This was the Windrush's first famous trip. After arriving, he rejoined the RAF for a few more years. He left the armed forces in 1953. He then settled in Southwark, a part of London. He started working as a postman, a job he kept for 34 years.
Community Work and Mayor
Sam King was very active in the West Indian community in London. He helped with the first Caribbean-style carnival in 1959. This event was a start for the much bigger Notting Hill Carnival that happens every year.
He also helped to create the West Indian Gazette. This was the first British newspaper made especially for black readers. He managed its distribution in the mid-1950s. King later became a local councillor. In 1983, he was elected mayor of the London Borough of Southwark. He was the first black mayor in that area. At that time, he was also the only black mayor in all of London.
In 1996, King started the Windrush Foundation with Arthur Torrington. This group works to remember the people who arrived on the Windrush ship. It also helps West Indian immigrants. King believed that the date the Windrush arrived should be a public holiday. He wanted to celebrate the important contributions immigrants have made to British society. Because of his strong connection to this cause, people called him "Mr. Windrush."
In 1998, Sam King was given the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) award. This was part of the 50th-anniversary celebrations of Windrush Day. In the same year, he wrote a book about his life called Climbing up the Rough Side of the Mountain.
Personal Life and Legacy
Sam King was a lay preacher, which means he gave religious talks without being a full minister. He loved socialism and cricket. He even started reading a newspaper called the Daily Telegraph just for its cricket articles. He once said that cricket was "not a sport, it's a way of life."
King became ill in early 2016 and passed away on June 17, 2016, at the age of 90. He had been married twice and had two children, three grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. Many people shared their sadness when he died. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn called King "a legend." He said that King taught Londoners about Caribbean food, culture, and music. He added that "London is a better place, Britain is a better place thanks to him and his family." His funeral was held at Southwark Cathedral and many people came to honor him.
In 2020, Sam King was included on a list of the 100 Great Black Britons.
