Finding a Home
Meetings took place at various locations, often in group member’s homes, until a meeting in 1961 at the Normanton Hotel formally established the Derby West Indian Association (DWIA).
From 1955 to 1982 DWIA meetings took place mainly in the evening, attended by men and women at various private homes. As the membership grew it became necessary to host meetings at public venues.
Meetings and events were held across the city at various members homes and other public buildings.
The locations below were recorded in the original DWIA minutes book
25 Crewe Street, Mr McBean’s house, DWIA Secretary
250 Abbey Street, Committee Member’s house
59 Sale Street, Mr Scott’s house, DWIA Committee Member
18 Birdwood St, Committee Member’s house
17 West Drive, Committee Member’s house
St James Church Hall, Committee Member’s house
Pear Tree House
Normanton Hotel
Cambridge hotel
Havana Club
Hodgkinson Coffee Bar, Pear Tree Road
Madeley Centre
Council for Racial Equality, offices
It soon became clear that the community needed a 'home'.
Mr. Solomon 'Ricky' Walters became DWIA President and made a commitment to build a Community Centre for West Indians in the city. With the help of Race Equality Council's (REC) Chief Officer, Janet Fletcher Davis, DWIA submitted a successful application in 1977/78 under the Home Office's Urban Aid Programme through Derbyshire County Council. However, the difficult task of finding land on which the building could be built stalled the progress.
In 1980, Milton Crosdale, the new Chief Officer at the REC and Ricky Walters secured the land for the building. Yet, much of the Urban Aid grant went on laying the foundations and this scaled down the size of the first building. It was not until 1981 that the Association was able to use The Centre.
Soon after the first phase was built, DWIA had more good news. A failed Urban Aid grant had left £100,000 going spare. Milton Crosdale was called to see if the Caribbean community in Derby would like it. He was given 24 hours to decide. An emergency meeting was convened at the newly-built centre and it was agreed to accept the money. Builders soon went to work designing and building a large hall for community events.
In 1982, The Centre was officially opened by the Mayor of Derby, Councilor Norman Glen, and the Lord Lieutenant of Derbyshire, Sir Peter Hilton. The High Commissioner of Trinidad and Tobago, Eustace Seigaret was the Guest of Honour. With the cutting of the ribbon, Derby's black community had a home. Since then, numerous generations have passed through the Centre's halls and, 40 years on, it remains a hub of the community.