Reflections on Heritage, Leadership, and Legacy: My Journey with English Heritage

The Heritage Sector is something I have been a part of for many years now, starting with the award-winning Camden Black History Forum (2002–2011), which, in collaboration with Samenua Sesher and Jon Daniels, won the BBC Race in the Media Award (RIMA) in 2005. Samenua would go on to become Head of Culture and Arts in Kensington & Chelsea, while Jon would consolidate his position as one of the UK’s most innovative community-based designers. The logos of Operation Black Vote, Race on the Agenda, Black Archives in Brixton, Voice4change England, and many others are testimony to the brilliance of his work.

In 2018, my experience and success in Camden led to me being approached by the English Heritage Trust (EHT) to become one of its first Black Trustees, alongside historian David Olusoga, who also joined that year. Now in my eighth and final year, as the longest serving current board member, I’m ready to step down and make way for the next generation of leaders.

EHT are the custodians of over 400 historical buildings and monuments, including some of the most iconic in the country, such as Stonehenge, Kenwood House, Hadrian’s Wall, Dover Castle, Marble Arch, Whitby Abbey in York, and Battle Abbey in Hastings. If you’ve seen Bridgerton, Downton Abbey and a whole host of films like Death of Stalin or Belle, you’ve seen an EHT building. Growing public access through a national membership scheme, conservation and maintenance are core to EHT day-to-day business. It also runs London’s famous blue plaques scheme. London Blue Plaques (now national) were started in 1866 and are thought to be the oldest of their kind in the world. More than 1,000 plaques across the capital, on buildings humble and grand, honour the notable women and men who have lived or worked in them.

Coming to the end of my time has meant reflection. What were the highlights of my time on the board? At the point of my recruitment, EHT were transitioning from a government funded body to a new independent charity by 2020, looking to shed themselves of their straitlaced upper middle-class image and be more diverse in every aspect of their activities.

There have been many highlights, but I’ll restrict my choice to three areas.

Firstly, the Blue Plaque Scheme:

Excitement overflowed in 2023 when Princess Sophia Duleep Singh, suffragette, daughter of the last Maharajah of the Punjab, and goddaughter to Queen Victoria, was commemorated with a blue plaque by English Heritage, (26 May). The plaque was laid at Faraday House, which was granted to Princess Sophia and her sisters as a grace and favour apartment in Hampton Court by Queen Victoria.

Anita Anand, Journalist, writer, and biographer of Sophia Duleep Singh, said: “As a political journalist, I thought I knew the story of the suffragettes, and then I found this extraordinary woman and she blew me away. As the last princess of the Sikh Empire, goddaughter of Queen Victoria, society darling and fashion icon, a life of comfort and celebrity was hers for the taking, but she chose a harder path. Using her international fame and influence, putting herself in physical danger, she fought for the rights of women to vote. Campaigning with unrelenting ferocity, loyalty and selflessness, she moved the dial. I am delighted to see her commemorated by English Heritage”

Other honourable mentions should include the Plaque erected in 2024 by English Heritage for singer Adelaide Hall (1901–1993) at 1 Collingham Road, South Kensington, SW5 0NT, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and Musician Bob Marley, his plaque erected in 2019, at 42 Oakley Street, Chelsea, SW3 5HA, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

Secondly, the joint EHT – V4CE event held in 2022 to mark the 250th anniversary of the historic Mansfield Judgement:

This Judgement is often overlooked but was important in laying the ground for the abolition of the slave trade. The judgement is based on the legal case of runaway slave, James Somerset. Mansfield ruled in June 22, 1722 that as there was no previous legal decision which approved the practice of sending a person out of the country to a life of slavery and, as the practice of slavery is so abhorrent to any reasonable person, Stewart’s plan to send Somerset to the plantations as a slave could not be justified under the Common Law or by natural law. Somerset’s imprisonment was therefore illegal and he regained his freedom.

This amazing event held in the former home of the late Lord Mansfield (famous for being the uncle of Dido Belle) featured contributions from the Chineke Junior Orchestra, Black History Month founder, Addai Sebo, and family descendants of Somerset. Many people outside the legal profession are unaware that the judgment, an important milestone is still active in English law! [The Chineke piece specially created for the event is available on BBC iPlayer]

Thirdly, the construction of the Tintagel footbridge in Cornwall:

Designed by Ney & Partners and William Matthews Associates Architectural Practice, Tintagel Castle’s footbridge is a striking feat of engineering. Tintagel’s remote location and challenging landscape called for an innovative approach to the construction. The bridge is made from two cantilevers which reach out and touch, almost in the middle. On completion, the bridge raised the peak number of visitors to the area, from 250,000 per day, and has become a hugely successful visitor attraction along the Cornish coastline.

Fourth and finally, being part of the team that brought in Gerard Lemos as the new Chair of EHT after the departure of Sir Tim Laurence:

Gerard’s appointment, as the first Asian Chair, underlined the radical nature of EHT’s approach to diversity. But, with an impressive resume of public service that included chairs at Probation Service, Donmar Warehouse Theatre, and premium bonds, Lemos was no token appointment. As luck would have it, his talents could not be contained with the EHT and shortly after gaining a peerage this year, Lord Lemos was swiped away to become a Labour whip in the House of Lords in July 2025, leading to a major reshuffle at the top of the EHT board.

I have enjoyed my time on the EHT board where I learnt a hell of lot. Growing public fees, encouraging private donors and government support are all part of the mix in relation to the difficult demands of working through building conservation priorities, while ensuring high levels of public access. Set against a challenging background of financial constraints that all heritage organisations currently are facing.

I wish my colleagues well when I step down in December of this year. My only disappointment will be not being around to see the final redevelopment of Marble Arch and the rumoured EHT Grenfell memorial, dedicated to the victims and survivors of that tragic event.