Hundreds of people have called for a West Hampstead primary school to be renamed after London’s first black headteacher.
Beckford Primary School has confirmed it will seek to consult on a new name following calls from campaigners who highlighted its namesake dedication, William Beckford, owned slaves.
Former pupils of the school - Wara Mutasa, Steve Hogarth, Richard Frost and Dominic Dawes - have created a 400-strong petition to rename the school after Beryl Gilroy.
She was headmistress of Beckford from 1969 to 1982 and an ethno-psychotherapist writer of the Windrush generation.
READ MORE: West Hampstead school named after slave trader answers calls to rebrandThe petition described the trailblazer as a “formidable and brilliant woman” who fostered “tolerance, diversity and excellence”.
Dominic, who attended the school from 1974 until 1982, said: “I was lucky enough to grow up in an area of north-west London that was richly diverse and harmoniously so: a progressive and tolerant community that not only taught me the positive value of diversity and difference, but also made me a lifelong anti-racist.
“Our primary school headteacher, Beryl Gilroy, was central in fostering this culture. She inspired pupils, teachers and the wider community alike, and served as a model for the simultaneous pursuit of excellence and tolerance.”
He added Ms Gilroy’s name is “far more woven” into the school’s history than William Beckford was.
READ MORE: Petition urges West Hampstead primary school to reconsider slave trader nameThis comes as statues and memorials in public places around the UK have come under scrutiny in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement.
Camden Council has also announced a cross-party review to re-examine statues, monuments and place names around the borough.
FOLLOW THE HAM&HIGH ON FACEBOOK TO JOIN THE DISCUSSIONBeckford headteacher Sam Drake said plans were already in the pipeline to paint a large mural to Beryl Gilroy at the front of the school.
He said: “We were keen to review the name anyway, regardless of the petitions, and regardless of what the outcome is for renaming the school, Beryl is part of the history of the school.
“We need to get the process going so we can see what other ideas are out there and see what is going to get the support of the community.”
See the petition at https://tinyurl.com/yacwqg4s
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here