Seven Saints of St Paul’s murals celebrate Carnival founders

A four-year-long project celebrating the origins of St Paul’s Carnival in time for this year’s celebrations.

Seven prominent walls in St Paul’s have now been painted with colourful and poignant murals of the founders of the annual event.

The large depictions of Carmen Beckford, Dolores Campbell, Barbara Dettering, Clifford Drummond, Audley Evans, Roy Hackett and Owen Henry include symbols and quotes representing their tireless work in the community.

Artist Michele Curtis, who painted the pieces in collaboration with The Paintsmiths, said that it has been an emotional journey creating the tributes, called the Seven Saints of St Paul’s.

“Being from the African-Caribbean community, for me, growing up in Bristol, St Paul’s Carnival was a lot more than just a street party. It’s permission to celebrate our heritage,” Michele told Bristol24/7.

“I started looking into who the founders were, and how the carnival started. And there was a huge rich history around the Bristol West Indian Parents and Friends Association – originally the Commonwealth Coordinated Committee – which was the organisation that was fighting and campaigning, and the organisers behind the Bristol Bus Boycott.

“I didn’t know that there was a connection. And then it was off that organisation that these seven actually met and decided to start Carnival.”

Roy Hackett portrayed with symbols of the Bristol Bus Boycott on Byron Street

The Bristol Bus Boycott took place in 1968 in response to Bristol Omnibus Company refusing to employ members of the black and Asian communities.

This discrimination is representative of the urban cultural climate during this time, where racism was embedded in all social systems.

Roy Hackett, Owen Henry and Audley Evans were among the most influential protesters fighting against this hostile time in history.

Carmen Beckford’s mural on Morgan Street

While researching for the project, Michele realised she had experienced work of the seven first-hand, even after their deaths.

“I remember going on coach trips to the beach, and things like that with everybody from the community and not realising that it was the same people [the seven saints] that had arranged that for us to be able to take the children away in the summer holidays.

“And then I started looking into their individual accomplishments and all the things that did to help community members, and not just the black community, but all communities. The Asian community, they worked a lot with, the churches in the community, and the Irish community.

“Everyone was included in whatever they were trying to do to build inclusion. And so I feel deeply connected to all of them in a different way just from their stories and speaking to their family members.”

Owen Henry’s mural on City Road was the first to be completed

Working closely with the families of the seven was invaluable in the progression of the project, with Michele getting stories from family members of those who have died.

“They were were really up for it,” Michele said. “They were welcoming and embraced me as an adopted family member. I just felt so honoured that they would trust me to tell the story and hold their legacy in my hands.”

Clifford Drummond portrayed with his cafe that was at the heart of the community in multiple ways

Clifford Drummond owned a business called the Speedy Bird Cafe on Grosvenor Road, located where the St Paul’s Learning Centre is today.

The carnival founders would meet at the Speedy Bird, and it was where they held the initial meetings about the Commonwealth Coordinator Committee.

Drummond worked a lot with the Asian community as well, especially with the changes in regulations with regards to British citizenship and passports.

Audley Evans’ mural on Norrisville Road

As well as honouring the work of the seven, Michele hopes that the project will have a wider influence on the subject of cultural diversity in Bristol.

“Our identity as British citizens is a shared identity and a melting pot of many different cultures.”

Barbara Dettering’s mural on Ferne Street facing St Agnes Park

Dolores Campbell on the aptly-named Campbell Street is represented alongside a drawing by Michele’s eight-year-old son in recognition of Dolores’ 30 fostered children

All photos by Mary Mann.

Read more: St Paul’s Carnival seeks extra funding for 2019