Stitching Stories: Vibrant Tapestry Celebrates Black Britons' Wartime Heroism

Paula Ogun Hector is an artist who wanted to highlight the important role Black Britons played during wartime, so she created the Tapestry of Black Britons. This large and colorful tapestry, made with blue and yellow threads, features the faces of many people who served in the war. Paula worked with a Bristol textile company called Dash and Miller, and embroiderer Jacky Puzey, to bring the tapestry to life. The artwork is currently on display at Wells Cathedral in Somerset until November 29, as part of an exhibition that aims to tell a story that has often been left out of British history. The tapestry was made to honor the contributions of Black British, Caribbean, and African service members, marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two. Paula said the tapestry was inspired by the famous Bayeux Tapestry and African weaving traditions, and she wanted it to show that, even though people come from different backgrounds, they are all part of one fabric.

The tapestry includes special details, like the national flower of Barbados, which was embroidered by Jacky Puzey. It also features notable people such as Prince Albert Jacob, a centenarian who helped repair planes during the war and traveled between the US and England. When the tapestry was displayed in Birmingham for Black History Month, Prince Albert Jacob saw himself in the artwork, which was a touching moment for Paula. She said it was 'really special' because he is one of the few people in the tapestry who is still alive. Paula hopes the exhibition will encourage more people to share their family histories, especially those that have not been widely told. As more people came forward with their stories, a photo banner was created to include new faces and their stories, which was shown at Bristol Beacon in November.

One of the people who contributed to the photo banner was Kalpna Woolf, the High Sheriff of Bristol. She sent in a picture of her father, Om Prakesh Dutta, who fought alongside British soldiers on the Burmese front from 1944 to 1948. Kalpna explained that more than 2. 5 million Indians participated in World War Two, showing that the war effort included people from many different countries, not just Europe or America. Her father moved to the UK after the war and was granted citizenship for his service. Kalpna said she likes to share this story because it shows the deep connections and history that exist between people from different backgrounds. She said, 'It doesn't start with people arriving on a boat. ' The tapestry and photo banner help to remind everyone of the diverse stories that make up British history and show that the UK is truly 'all one fabric. '