Frank Arthur Bailey (26 November 1925 – 2 December 2015) was a Guyanese-British firefighter and social worker who is known as being one of the first black firefighters in the United Kingdom.
Born in British Guiana, he first worked on a German trade ship which led him to move to New York where he soon found work at a hospital, becoming a medical assistant. In opposition to racially segregated practices, he led a walkout at the hospital. In 1953, he moved to London and came across a Fire Brigades Union (FBU) delegate who told him that black people were not employed by the fire service because they were "not educated or strong enough", though he challenged this by applying as a firefighter. In 1955, he was accepted and became one of the first black firefighters in the UK, though left 10 years later due to being consistently turned down for promotion due to inherent racism in the service. Afterwards, he became a social worker, guardian ad litem and a legal adviser, retiring in 1990.
Biographyedit
Frank Arthur Bailey was born in British Guiana on 26 November 1925 and was educated at local church schools.[1][2][3] He went on to become an engineering apprentice and worked on a German trade ship as a coal trimmer.[2][3] This led him to move to New York, United States, where he found work at a hospital, initially as a porter before becoming a medical assistant within the physiotherapy department.[2] At the hospital, he successfully led a walkout in opposition to racially segregated dining facilities.[2]
In 1953, shortly after returning to British Guiana, Bailey moved to London, England.[2][4] He attended a Trades Union Congress conference where a Fire Brigades Union (FBU) delegate told him that black people were not employed by the fire service because they were "not educated or strong enough" though he challenged this by applying as a firefighter.[1][4] In 1955, he was accepted by the West Ham Fire Brigade and served at the Silvertown Fire Station in East London.[1][2][4] He became the first black full-time firefighter in London and possibly the UK.[1] However, there are some reports of black firefighters serving during World War II.[1] Soon after, he became the FBU branch representative and befriended the then FBU general secretary, John Horner.[2]
In 1965, he left the service due to being systematically turned down for promotions whilst white firefighters were being promoted ahead of him.[2][4] According to Michael Nicholas, a former FBU national secretary for black and ethnic minority members, this was due to the inherent racism within the service.[4] He was then employed as a social worker in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London and became one of the first black mental welfare officers and psychiatric social workers.[2] He then worked as a guardian ad litem and subsequently retired in 1990.[2] During this time, he was also the first black legal advisor to black young people at Marylebone Magistrates Court.[1]
Throughout his life Bailey had three marriages which all resulted in divorce, the first to Isabella Maven, the second to Josie Munro, and the third to Joy Greenall.[2]
He died on 2 December 2015 aged 90.[1][2] He is survived by his three daughters, Rebecca from his second marriage; Jumanne and Alexis from his third marriage.[2] Over 80 London firefighters gave a guard of honour at his funeral on 11 January 2016.[5]
On 26 November 2020, his 95th birthday was honoured by Google UK with a Doodle.[3]
Referencesedit
^ abcdefg"Honour guard for funeral of London's first black firefighter". ITV News. 11 January 2016. from the original on 9 May 2017. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
^ abcda Silva, Chantal (26 November 2020). "Frank Bailey: Who was the man believed to be London's first black firefighter in today's Google Doodle?". The Independent. from the original on 11 December 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
^ abcdeBrowne, Kesewaa (31 October 2018). "The black history you might not learn at school". BBC News. from the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
^"Brigade pays tribute to London's first post-war black firefighter". Chiswick Herald. 19 January 2016. from the original on 3 February 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
March 13, 2024
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Frank Arthur Bailey 26 November 1925 2 December 2015 was a Guyanese British firefighter and social worker who is known as being one of the first black firefighters in the United Kingdom Frank BaileyBailey in 1955BornFrank Arthur Bailey 1925 11 26 26 November 1925British GuianaDied2 December 2015 2015 12 02 aged 90 Known forOne of the first black firefighters in the UKSpousesIsabella Maven divorced wbr Josie Munro divorced wbr Joy Greenall divorced wbr Children3Born in British Guiana he first worked on a German trade ship which led him to move to New York where he soon found work at a hospital becoming a medical assistant In opposition to racially segregated practices he led a walkout at the hospital In 1953 he moved to London and came across a Fire Brigades Union FBU delegate who told him that black people were not employed by the fire service because they were not educated or strong enough though he challenged this by applying as a firefighter In 1955 he was accepted and became one of the first black firefighters in the UK though left 10 years later due to being consistently turned down for promotion due to inherent racism in the service Afterwards he became a social worker guardian ad litem and a legal adviser retiring in 1990 Biography editFrank Arthur Bailey was born in British Guiana on 26 November 1925 and was educated at local church schools 1 2 3 He went on to become an engineering apprentice and worked on a German trade ship as a coal trimmer 2 3 This led him to move to New York United States where he found work at a hospital initially as a porter before becoming a medical assistant within the physiotherapy department 2 At the hospital he successfully led a walkout in opposition to racially segregated dining facilities 2 In 1953 shortly after returning to British Guiana Bailey moved to London England 2 4 He attended a Trades Union Congress conference where a Fire Brigades Union FBU delegate told him that black people were not employed by the fire service because they were not educated or strong enough though he challenged this by applying as a firefighter 1 4 In 1955 he was accepted by the West Ham Fire Brigade and served at the Silvertown Fire Station in East London 1 2 4 He became the first black full time firefighter in London and possibly the UK 1 However there are some reports of black firefighters serving during World War II 1 Soon after he became the FBU branch representative and befriended the then FBU general secretary John Horner 2 In 1965 he left the service due to being systematically turned down for promotions whilst white firefighters were being promoted ahead of him 2 4 According to Michael Nicholas a former FBU national secretary for black and ethnic minority members this was due to the inherent racism within the service 4 He was then employed as a social worker in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea London and became one of the first black mental welfare officers and psychiatric social workers 2 He then worked as a guardian ad litem and subsequently retired in 1990 2 During this time he was also the first black legal advisor to black young people at Marylebone Magistrates Court 1 Throughout his life Bailey had three marriages which all resulted in divorce the first to Isabella Maven the second to Josie Munro and the third to Joy Greenall 2 He died on 2 December 2015 aged 90 1 2 He is survived by his three daughters Rebecca from his second marriage Jumanne and Alexis from his third marriage 2 Over 80 London firefighters gave a guard of honour at his funeral on 11 January 2016 5 On 26 November 2020 his 95th birthday was honoured by Google UK with a Doodle 3 References edit a b c d e f g Honour guard for funeral of London s first black firefighter ITV News 11 January 2016 Archived from the original on 9 May 2017 Retrieved 26 November 2020 a b c d e f g h i j k l m Nicholas Michael 26 January 2016 Frank Bailey obituary The Guardian Guardian Media Group Archived from the original on 8 November 2020 Retrieved 26 November 2020 a b c da Silva Chantal 26 November 2020 Frank Bailey Who was the man believed to be London s first black firefighter in today s Google Doodle The Independent Archived from the original on 11 December 2020 Retrieved 3 February 2020 a b c d e Browne Kesewaa 31 October 2018 The black history you might not learn at school BBC News Archived from the original on 9 November 2020 Retrieved 26 November 2020 Brigade pays tribute to London s first post war black firefighter Chiswick Herald 19 January 2016 Archived from the original on 3 February 2021 Retrieved 3 February 2020 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Frank Bailey firefighter amp oldid 1171416670, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
