A Camberwell historian has created a self-guided walk exploring Black-British culture in Camberwell from WW1 soldiers to the former Mayor of Southwark to famous actor John Boyega. 

Stephen Bourne created the walk after working on his book Deep Are the Roots: Trailblazers who changed Black British Theatre. There are new banners up around the area, with key info and QR codes to explore black history in Camberwell.

Stephen Bourne was born in St Giles’ Hospital, Camberwell SE5 and attended Oliver Goldsmith Primary School from 1962-1969. He was raised on the Sceaux Gardens Estate in the 1960s and 1970s

This self-guided walk explores black history in Camberwell from John Primero (d 1615) to Boyega in the current day. A WWI soldier to firefighter and British Empire Medallist, from the Windrush to the mayor of Southwark, a black feminist broadcaster on the BBC in the 1940’s and a man sometimes described as the Martin Luther King of Britain.

Bourne released his book called Deep Are the Roots: Trailblazers who changed Black British Theatre on October 7. Booker Prize winner Bernadine Evaristo says: “Stephen Bourne is a hero of our history.” Bourne told The History Press that “It was fascinating to uncover the forgotten work of Black actors and writers from Africa, Britain and the Caribbean.”

One person remembered on the walk is former serviceman and firefighter George A. Roberts, whose residence on Warner Road is marked by a Southwark Heritage Blue Plaque. Roberts was a Trinidadian who served in the British Army during the First World War. He later served as a fire fighter during the Second World War. In 1944 he was awarded the British Empire Medal “for general duties at New Cross Fire Station” and for his part in the founding and pioneering of the discussion and education groups of the fire service.

Another notable point on the walk is Theatre Peckham on Havill Street. This includes a mural (unveiled in 2020) of the internationally acclaimed actor Boyega who famously plays Finn in the Star Wars films. Boyega is of Nigerian descent and was a former student of Theatre Peckham. Like Bourne, he was raised on the Sceaux Gardens estate in SE5 and went to Oliver Goldsmith Primary school