HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Frank Arthur Bailey (26 November 1925 – 2 December 2015) was a Guyanese-British firefighter and social worker who is known as being one of the first black firefighters in the United Kingdom. Born in
British Guiana British Guiana was a British colony, part of the mainland British West Indies. It was located on the northern coast of South America. Since 1966 it has been known as the independent nation of Guyana. The first known Europeans to encounter Guia ...
, he first worked on a German trade ship which led him to move to
New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...
where he soon found work at a hospital, becoming a medical assistant. In opposition to racially segregated practices, he led a walkout at the hospital. In 1953, he moved to London and came across a Fire Brigades Union (FBU) delegate who told him that black people were not employed by the fire service because they were "not educated or strong enough", though he challenged this by applying as a firefighter. In 1955, he was accepted and became one of the first black firefighters in the UK, though left 10 years later due to being consistently turned down for promotion due to inherent racism in the service. Afterwards, he became a social worker, guardian ''
ad litem ''Ad litem'' (Latin: "for the suit") is a term used in law to refer to the appointment by a court of one party to act in a lawsuit on behalf of another party such as a child or an incapacitated adult, who is deemed incapable of representing him ...
'' and a legal adviser, retiring in 1990.


Biography

Frank Arthur Bailey was born in
British Guiana British Guiana was a British colony, part of the mainland British West Indies. It was located on the northern coast of South America. Since 1966 it has been known as the independent nation of Guyana. The first known Europeans to encounter Guia ...
on 26 November 1925 and was educated at local church schools. He went on to become an engineering apprentice and worked on a German trade ship as a
coal trimmer A coal trimmer or trimmer is a position within the engineering department of a coal-fired steamship that involves all coal handling duties. Their main task is to ensure that coal is evenly distributed within a ship to ensure it remains trim in ...
. This led him to move to
New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...
, United States, where he found work at a hospital, initially as a
porter Porter may refer to: Companies * Porter Airlines, Canadian airline based in Toronto * Porter Chemical Company, a defunct U.S. toy manufacturer of chemistry sets * Porter Motor Company, defunct U.S. car manufacturer * H.K. Porter, Inc., a locom ...
before becoming a medical assistant within the physiotherapy department. At the hospital, he successfully led a walkout in opposition to racially segregated dining facilities. In 1953, shortly after returning to British Guiana, Bailey moved to London, England. He attended a
Trades Union Congress The Trades Union Congress (TUC) is a national trade union center, national trade union centre, a federation of trade unions that collectively represent most unionised workers in England and Wales. There are 48 affiliated unions with a total of ...
conference where a Fire Brigades Union (FBU) delegate told him that black people were not employed by the fire service because they were "not educated or strong enough" though he challenged this by applying as a firefighter. In 1955, he was accepted by the
West Ham West Ham is a district in East London, England and is in the London Borough of Newham. It is an inner-city suburb located east of Charing Cross. The area was originally an ancient parish formed to serve parts of the older Manor of Ham, a ...
Fire Brigade and served at the
Silvertown Silvertown is a district of West Ham in the London Borough of Newham, in east London, England. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames, Thames and was historically part of the parishes of West Ham and East Ham, Becontree Hundred, hund ...
Fire Station in East London. He became the first black full-time firefighter in London and possibly the UK. However, there are some reports of black firefighters serving during
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
. Soon after, he became the FBU branch representative and befriended the then FBU general secretary, John Horner. In 1965, he left the service due to being systematically turned down for promotions whilst white firefighters were being promoted ahead of him. According to Michael Nicholas, a former FBU national secretary for black and ethnic minority members, this was due to the inherent racism within the service. He was then employed as a social worker in the
Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (often known by its initialism as RBKC) is an Inner London, Inner London borough with Royal borough, royal status. It is the List of English districts by area, smallest borough in London and the secon ...
, London and became one of the first black mental welfare officers and psychiatric social workers. He then worked as a guardian ''
ad litem ''Ad litem'' (Latin: "for the suit") is a term used in law to refer to the appointment by a court of one party to act in a lawsuit on behalf of another party such as a child or an incapacitated adult, who is deemed incapable of representing him ...
'' and subsequently retired in 1990. During this time, he was also the first black legal advisor to black young people at Marylebone Magistrates Court. Throughout his life Bailey had three marriages which all resulted in divorce, the first to Isabella Maven, the second to Josie Munro, and the third to Joy Greenall. He died on 2 December 2015 aged 90. He is survived by his three daughters, Rebecca from his second marriage; Jumanne and Alexis from his third marriage. Over 80 London firefighters gave a guard of honour at his funeral on 11 January 2016. On 26 November 2020, his 95th birthday was honoured by Google UK with a
Doodle A doodle is a drawing made while a person's attention is otherwise occupied. Doodles are simple drawings that can have concrete representational meaning or may just be composed of random and abstract art, abstract lines or shapes, generally w ...
.


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bailey, Frank 1925 births 2015 deaths British firefighters British Guiana people Guyanese emigrants to England British trade unionists British social workers Guyanese trade unionists Guyanese social workers