TRIBUTES TO BAME CAMPAIGNER
TRIBUTES have been paid to Black History Wales patron and celebrated jazz singer Patti Flynn who won a 26-year campaign for a memorial to black and ethnic minority servicemen and women.
Born in Cardiff in 1937, Patti lost her father and two brothers in the Second World War.
After her lobbying, a plaque in honour of BAME soldiers, servicemen and women was finally unveiled at the Welsh National War Memorial in Cardiff last year. Patti attended the ceremony which was held in front of 200 people.
In a tribute to Patti on its Facebook page, Black History Month Wales said: “It is with a heart full of sorrow and sadness that we write to inform you of the sad passing of our beautiful Black History Wales patron Patti Flynn. Our heartfelt condolences go to Paula, Michael and all Patti’s family at this very sad time.
“Anyone who knows Patti, must know how much she championed black history in Wales, how she fought for the recognition of black history by the Wales Millennium Centre alongside
Humie Webbe, her dearest friend – how much she fought for the recognition of the contributions of black servicemen and women to the world wars one and two efforts.
“She campaigned valiantly for 26 years to have a monument erected and together in 2019, Patti Flynn, Uzo Iwobi and Race Council Cymru worked with deputy minister and chief whip Jane Hutt MS, Cllr Susan Elsmore, Cardiff council, Royal Commonwealth Society Wales, British Legion and British Armed Forces represented by Colonel Jonah MacGill and the stone masons organised to have the monument installed.
“Patti Flynn wrote the words on the face of the monument and in so doing ensured that her legacy and the selfless sacrifice of black, Asian and minority ethnic servicemen and women in Wales will never be extinguished.
“Patti, your voice in song (usually jazz) rises above the noise in the world around you and we say, your black history family will never allow your legacy to be extinguished. Rest in perfect peace our beautiful Tiger Bay jazz diva – we love you now and always.”
Patti’s father, Wilmott George Young, came to Cardiff in the 1920s from Jamaica. Both he and her brother, Jocelyn, served as merchant seamen during the Second World War and lost their lives when their boats were torpedoed.
Her older brother Sgt Arthur Young, a wireless operator in the RAF, died when his damaged Lancaster bomber crashed returning from France.
Speaking about her campaign in 2018, Patti said: “People from the Caribbean were invited over after the war to the UK, to help rebuild our bombed and shattered country, while people like my mother had to try to rebuild her and her remaining four children’s lives.
“I think its a scandal and disgusting that members of the Commonwealth countries should be treated the way these people have and it leaves a very worrying situation for people of colour.”