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Colour bar ended, Xavier started as guard August 1966

8/15/2026

50 3 Full Breakdown

Summary

Mayors Unveil Plaques

On 13 August a Blue Plaque commemorating Moree’s 1965 Freedom Ride was unveiled at Moree Memorial Hall, with Mayor Susannah Pearse present.
South Tyneside Council unveiled a Blue Plaque on the 1856 Mill Dam chimney in South Shields, United Kingdom, attended by Mayor Stan Wildhirt and Mayoress Dawn.
Heritage Director Sam Kidman urged nominations for new plaques, noting over 70 exist in NSW, with the deadline Sunday 13 September.

Summary

Xavier Plaque Unveiled

English Heritage installed a blue plaque at 149 Ledbury Road, Asquith Xavier’s former Notting Hill home.
Xavier, in Dominica in 1920, arrived with the 1958 Windrush generation and worked at Marylebone Station.
After his 1966 request to transfer to Euston was rejected due to a colour bar, he and Jim Prendergast sued.
Rail announced on 15 July 1966 that the colour bar would end, letting Xavier start as a guard on 15 August 1966.

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Mayors Unveil Plaques

On 13 August a Blue Plaque commemorating Moree’s 1965 Freedom Ride was unveiled at Moree Memorial Hall, with Mayor Susannah Pearse present.
South Tyneside Council unveiled a Blue Plaque on the 1856 Mill Dam chimney in South Shields, United Kingdom, attended by Mayor Stan Wildhirt and Mayoress Dawn.
Heritage Director Sam Kidman urged nominations for new plaques, noting over 70 exist in NSW, with the deadline Sunday 13 September.

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