Awards

NORMA GREGORY (MA, BA, PGCE, PG Cert.)

DIVERSE HERITAGE SPECIALIST & DIVERSE HERITAGE CREATIVE

Norma Gregory is a diverse heritage specialist, museum project management consultant, heritage-related project manager, curator and creative practitioner for heritage education.

For almost thirty years, she has actively contributed to heritage education awareness and has researched and produced quality, heritage-related media products, educational resources and exhibitions in relation to African / African Caribbean experiences in the UK and beyond, helping to develop, expand and enrich available, accessible heritage as well as helping to address misrepresentation and under-represented aspects of our multicultural, shared history. Norma works in active partnership with local, national and international heritage related organisations, seeking to enhance and to expand current heritage provision and access for all people, across the world.

Norma has produced a wide range of innovative, diverse heritage education products such as print and broadcast media, publications, articles, audio and podcasts, photography and stained glass artistry, touring exhibitions, displays, plaques and memorials as well as services such as museum project management, heritage related consultancy, talks, presentations and workshops around EDI and heritage to local and global audiences, to enhance public knowledge regarding the inclusion and celebration of African history into mainstream settings.

Through her own social enterprise, Nottingham News Centre CIC, she founded in 2013 (see www.nottinghamnewscentre.com) and as a response to a lack of positive, diverse, media heritage for marginalised communities, she regularly sponsors and supports events and activities that promote heritage, education, achievement, access, inclusion and equality for all.

VALUES: COLLABORATIVE, CONSTRUCTIVE, CREATIVE

MISSION: THROUGH DIVERSE HERITAGE EDUCATION, EQUALITY AND INCLUSION FOR ALL

Norma Gregory’s diverse heritage achievements & contributions to knowledge

1. Coal Miners of African Caribbean Heritage Archives & Museum

Black Miners Museum founder and director. Research archive: bla ckcoalminers.com
BBC Wales ‘Wales’ Black Miners’, research and programme contributor, in collaboration with Cardiff Productions, October 2020 https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000n9rx/wales-black-miners (currently unavailable online)
ITV Central News, Windrush 75 Years, programme contribution, June 2023 https://youtu.be/23MePa1CCqc?si=W84U2ZMVEETwLZ1S
ITV Tyne Tees, October 2020 https://www.itv.com/news/tyne-tees/2020-10-06/new-exhibition-running-during-black-history-month-at-woodhorn-museum-to-celebrate-black-and-african-caribbean-miners
BBC Wales news article, October 2020 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-54390217
BBC Look North, October 2020 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xys1sLGt5Cg&feature=youtu.be
BBC News online article, Digging Deep documentary film screening, October 2020 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-54543640?fbclid=IwAR1CmjZx3X-fBlKj6AqhlaJF7P2pksohkET-uMRx2tjJTwt0zVCb-H9cdco
The lost story of Britain’s Black miners by Belinda Liversedge with interview contributions https://www.britsafe.org/publications/safety-management-magazine/safety-management-magazine/2021/the-lost-story-of-britain-s-black-miners/
‘Black British Coal Miners Significance and Sacrifice Remembered’ in Race Matters online, 25th October 2019 by the Runnymede Trust https://www.runnymedetrust.org/blog/black-british-coal-miners-significance-and-sacrifice-remembered
The Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mininghttps://www.iom3.org/materials-world-magazine/news/2019/oct/29/digging-deep-black-miners-museum-project
LeftLion newspaper feature p.27, #119 November 2019 interview with Alex Kuster https://www.leftlion.co.uk/media/4876691/leftlion-issue-119-web.pdfonline version https://www.leftlion.co.uk/read/2019/november/norma-gregory-black-miners-history-exhibition/
MEDIUM online magazine, consultancy and images, ‘Black History in the Coalfields’ article by Grace Millar, October 2019, https://medium.com/@ncb1947/black-history-in-the-coalfields-2ee6f61e15f1
ChronicleLive News, North East https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/andy-coles-dad-black-miners-19143172
EDITION magazine, consultancy and images, ‘Black Coal Miners – ‘A Tribute to a Hidden Past’ interview with Joy Sigaud, October 2019 https://editionbhm.com/2019/10/31/black-coal-miners-a-tribute-to-a-hidden-past/
Kirklees TV interview (December 2019) https://youtu.be/sgC_MFy2XsQ
Kirklees TV interview (March 2020) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRfoE4nNHnc&t=17s
Toronto Caribbean magazine (print and online versions), 5th November 2019, interview with David Myles https://torontocaribbean.com/digging-deeper-with-norma-gregory/
Guest panelist, ‘The Battle of Orgreave’ by Jeremy Deller, film screening and discussion, St Leonards Labour Group, London 14th June 2019
The Coal Authority, Nottinghamshire, research presentation to staff, 21st October 2019
UNITE, Headquarters Holborn London, research presentation to staff, 3rd October 2019
JUNO Women’s Aid, Nottingham, ‘Inspirational Women’ event, speaker, 25th October 2019
Conference paper: ‘Black Miners: Migration Memories from British Coalfields,’ Migrants & Minorities in Coalmining, Nottingham Trent University Conference, 11th July 2019 https://www.ntu.ac.uk/about-us/events/events/2019/07/migrants-and-minorities-in-british-coalmining
The Guardian newspaper, 25th October 2016, ‘How Britain’s black miners are reclaiming their place in history’ an article by Frances Perraudin. Photos by David Sillitoe. The Guardian, G2 supplement, pages 10-11 https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/oct/24/black-miners-britain-nottingham
Channel 4 News, 27th April 2018 https://www.channel4.com/news/windrush-miners-hold-reunion
Channel 4 Newssocial media video https://www.facebook.com/Channel4News/videos/10155887355091939/?q=channel%204%20news%20miners
BBC 1 Inside Out East Midlands(documentary programme) ‘Brothers Beneath the Surface’ viewing 12th September 2016. BBC Presenter / Reporter https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOHHcTgzs5E (BBC Inside Out East Midlands, ‘Brothers Beneath the Surface’ news feature and at https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07tc17r
BBC Wales, February 2018 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-43111730
BBC Bargain Hunt, episode 50, Nottingham 13 (aired 02/07/18) https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0b99x4b
ITV Calendar (Yorkshire TV) news, 15th October 2019 https://youtu.be/iW5vd_8yCYs
The Voice Newspaper (online) 28th September 2019 https://www.voice-online.co.uk/entertainment/arts-culture/2019/09/28/digging-deep-miners-of-african-caribbean-heritage/
Exhibition promotional video/vlog, September 2019 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZl9b7iIJHI
The Voice newspaper, May 24-30 Issue No.1833, 2018, pages 9 https://www.voice-online.co.uk/article/black-miners-unite
The Voice newspaper, August 4-10, 2016, pages 6-7. ‘The Untold Story of Britain’s Black Miners’. https://www.voice-online.co.uk/article/untold-story-britains-black-miners
The Voice newspaper, July 21-27, 2016, page 11.’ Nottingham Project Highlights the History of Black Miners’. https://www.voice-online.co.uk/article/nottingham-project-highlights-history-black-miners
The Voice newspaper, May 3-9 2018, Issue No.1830, p.3
The Voice newspaper, May 24-30 2018, Issue No. 1833 p.9
The Voice newspaper, June 21-27 2018, Windrush 70, Souvenir Edition p. 24
Commission work by David Severn, photographer, black miners’ portraits https://www.davidsevern.com/projects-all/the-pit-of-nations
‘The Meaning of Black History’ presentation at Birmingham University, November 2016 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIqsxtxNJNE&t=6sand https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/historycultures/events/2016/meanings-of-black-history.aspx.
Notts TV (News) – ‘The project to uncover the untold stories of black miners in Notts’ 11.10.16 https://nottstv.com/inside-pit-nations-untold-story-black-miners-nottinghamshire/
University of Nottingham presentation, 17th October 2017. Digging Deeper: unearthing narratives of black British coal miners. https://blogs.nottingham.ac.uk/peopleandculture/2017/09/14/digging-deeper-unearthing-narratives-black-british-coal-miners/
Heritage Lottery Funding article https://www.national-lottery.co.uk/life-changing/project-funding-finder?icid=lich-212:bd:13:ist-ts:tnl:lich-prfufi-270:in:co
Black Miners’ Reunion event 27th April 2018 (organiser) https://vimeo.com/267018775 https://youtu.be/YhERgt1XHnA
Project featured in article by author James Walker: https://jameskwalker.co.uk/blog/2018/05/16/everything-you-wanted-to-know-about-making-a-radio-documentary-but-couldnt-be-arsed-to-ask/
Project featured in article by author James Walker: https://dawnoftheunread.wordpress.com/2018/05/15/talkandtongue-pit-poetry-and-notts-dialect/
Nottingham Local History Association (Newsletter) September 2019 https://nlha.org.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/3.21-NLHA-Newsletter_September-2019.pdf
Huddersfield Windrush Festival by the Jamaica National Council, Huddersfield Town Hall, 29th September 2018, speaker
Heritage Lottery Fund, online guest panelist, ‘Capturing Memories of Working Lives’ https://www.hlf.org.uk/community/live-chats/capturing-memories-working-lives-20-september-2018
Castle Cavendish Funding Award, summer 2016. Project titled, Coal Kids: Youth experiences in Nottinghamshire coal mining history.
Kemet FM radio interview with Kevin Brown ‘The Talk Back Show’. Topic: Coal Miners of African Heritage: Narratives from Nottinghamshire, 1st May 2016.
BBC Radio Nottingham black coal miners’ interview with presenter, Jodie Law
Nottingham Trent University, Department of English, student lecture. Topic: Coal Miners of African Heritage: Narratives from Nottinghamshire, 9th May 2016
Bygones newspaper feature article (Nottingham), 7th November 2016, page 13 ‘History in black and white’.
Initiating new street names in Nottingham/ Nottinghamshire, named after former miners of African Caribbean heritage: Lincoln Cole, Fitzalbert Taylor and Dew Wilson Mews.

2. Books, academic journal articles & conference papers

Pantomath Journal 2022-2023, Ustinov College Scholarly Journal, Durham University, pages 22-23, ‘Digging Deep Coal Miners of African Heritage at Ustinov College, a perspective on research activities to improve cultural heritage and diversity awareness’ https://issuu.com/ustinovcollege/docs/7293_du_pantomath_journal_digi
Jamaicans in Britain A Legacy of Leadership edited by Joy Sigaud (Editions Media Limited, 2020), page 112. https://patrickvernon.org.uk/book-release-jamaicans-in-britain-a-legacy-of-leadership/#:~:text=Jamaicans%20in%20Britain%3A%20A%20Legacy%20of%20Leadership%20is%20a%20collaboration,funds%20to%20enable%20the%20publication
View online e-publications written and produced by Norma Gregory at https://issuu.com/normagregory2
‘An Introduction to Sharing & Celebrating Diverse Industrial Heritage’ e-publication, 2022 https://issuu.com/normagregory2/docs/edi_help_guide_arts_phil_-3
Editorial: Dismantling structural racism in archives and recordkeeping practices in the UK, The Journal of the Archives and Records Association, Volume 42, 2021, p223-227 – Issue 3, Norma Gregory, Victoria Hoyle and Sarah-Joy Maddeaux https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/cjsa21/42/3 and https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/epub/10.1080/23257962.2021.1997731?needAccess=true
Archives and Record Journal Magazine, Jan/Feb 2022 issue, page 8. ‘ Special Issue of Archives and Records on dismantling structural racism in UK archives and record-keeping practices’ https://issuu.com/archivesandrecordsassociation/docs/arc_magazine_janfeb_2022
Conference paper: ‘Black Miners: Migration Memories from British Coalfields,’ Migrants & Minorities in Coalmining, Nottingham Trent University, 11th July 2019
N.J (2013) Deity, Distortion and Destruction: A Model of God in Alice Walker’s The Color Purple. Published in Black Theology: An International Journal, Vol. 11, no.3, pages 363-372. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1179/1476994813Z.00000000013
‘Keepers of the Flame, Saluting 100 Black Authors Volume 1, complied by Garfield Robinson, 2023, contributions on pages 94-95.
‘Jamaicans in Nottingham, Narratives and Reflections’ (Hansib Publications, 2015) https://www.waterstones.com/book/jamaicans-in-nottingham/norma-gregory/9781910553015
Conference paper: What’s Happening in Black History? Part II (University of Liverpool & Institute for Commonwealth Studies, February 3015) Paper title: Early Black British Narratives: their Significance and Legacy (February 2015). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3MdwXGVYCI& https://blackbritishhistory.co.uk/workshops/whbbh2/
Conference paper: The Meaning of Black History, University of Birmingham (November 2016)https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/historycultures/events/2016/meanings-of-black-history.aspxalso at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIqsxtxNJNE
What’s Happening in Black History? Part IV. Workshop, Bristol 7th April 2016. Institute for Commonwealth Studies, University of London. Conference Chair, ‘Women in Black British History’ seminar. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17aYlbvBrNUand Plenary speaker.
What’s Happening in Black History? Part VII. Workshop, London 26th October 2017. Institute for Commonwealth Studies, University of London. Plenary speaker.
Discussion on the impact of Jamaican post-war migration to Nottingham. By Dawn of the Unread, published on 8 June 2015 filmed by James Walker.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BONi-DJsIPg.https://www.leftlion.co.uk/read/2015/october/black-history-month-norma-gregory-7782
Bygones (newspaper)Nottingham July 2015, pages 6-7. ‘Jamaicans in Nottingham’
Slave Narratives of the Transatlantic Slave Trade(2007) project. Exhibition, publication and school workshops (2007) Awards for All, Big Lottery Fund. Reference L02.2 held at Nottingham Central Library and Arnold Library
Crooked Carousel, Selected Poetry (Nottingham News Centre Publications, 2016) https://www.amazon.co.uk/Crooked-Carousel-Selected-Norma-Gregory/dp/0993468705/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1504084396&sr=8-1&keywords=crooked+carousel
Oral History Society Conference, Belfast, Ireland 28-29 June 2018. Speaker
Oral History Journal Spring 2018 Vol. 46 No.1, p.5
Oral History Journal Autumn 2016 Vol. 44 No.2, p.7

3. Podcasts, radio and other broadcast media activity and impact

Heritage Consultant for Enid Blyton new series adaptation for television, 2024. Im collaboration with Moonage Pictures and the BBC.
Black History Month (BHM) Listings and national programme, contributions made by Norma Gregory https://www.blackhistorymonth.org.uk/?s=Norma+Gregory+
BBC Radio 4 Open Country, From Pit to Park, 13 October 2022 https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001cxxp / https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001cxxp
‘Helping People Through Heritage’ https://wtppod.buzzsprout.com/2068680/11787072-helping-people-through-heritage-with-norma-gregory (Episode 4) created for What’s The Point? podcast series by produced by Bryony Armstrong, December 2022
Historic England podcast series, ‘Irreplaceable: A History of England in 100 Places – Power, Protest & Progress’. Guest panelist with historians David Olusoga, Dr Suzannah Lipscomb, Celia Richardson and Billy Hurley Reading among others, as featured in The Guardian 07/08/2018:
https://historicengland.org.uk/get-involved/100-places/protest-power/peterloo-cable-street-and-olaudah-equiano/
https://historicengland.org.uk/get-involved/100-places/protest-power/miners-martyrs-and-palace-of-westminster/
/https://historicengland.org.uk/get-involved/100-places/protest-power/nuclear-physics-manchester-and-bristol-bus-boycott/
Inside Out BBC East Midlands (broadcast 12.09.16) Brother Beneath the Surface, (feature story) about the experiences of black miners of Nottinghamshire. Produced by Jane Dodge. Available to view at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOHHcTgzs5E
Windrush Stories (Series 2) https://open.spotify.com/episode/6BGl4an21TlPRdNAN4WEpg with thanks to the Prison Association https://www.windrushstories.com/season2
ABC News, Australia 8th December 2021, ‘Nottingham coal industry died so it reinvented itself in a bid to become the UK’s greenest city,’ contribution to article by Isabella Higgins https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-12-09/how-nottingham-plans-to-become-first-uk-net-zero-city/100599878
BBC ‘Expert Voices’ Academy selected candidate (Birmingham, 2014) https://www.bbc.co.uk/academy/en/articles/art20150505123427008
BBC Radio Nottingham regular guest contributor (Sundays, African-Caribbean Show, Midweek: The Afternoon Show)
Mello FM, Montego Bay Jamaica. Radio interview 22nd November 2016.
Kemet FM, Nottingham. Guest contributor (Kevin Brown Talk Back Show Sundays 9-11pm, Christine Belle, Weekday Show 10-1pm)
Mojatu Magazine, Editor-in-Chief, 12 months
Stella Vision Films, Nottingham. Assistant producer and researcher The History of the Nottingham Carnival (2012). Premiered at The New Art Exchange, Nottingham (10/08/12)
It’s My Story!‘ Meet the Media Experts’ community media event, host and organiser (Antenna Media Centre, 5/2/15). Media training facilitator 2014-2015
Insite Radio, Nottingham Internet radio station, volunteer presenter (2013)
BBC, Blue Peter, BBC Television Centre, London. Research and administration work experience, 2000.
BBC 10 day training in camera and editing skills (1999)
Bullseye TV Production Company, London. Voluntary work, researcher (1999)
The British Library, London. Work experience, Library Assistant (1998)
Sunday Express Newspaper, Voluntary work experience as a researcher, Features section (1995)

4. Higher Education: Research Participant

Impact Leaders Programme, external project partner, ‘Enhancing the Performance of Kenya’s Gemstone Mine-to- Market Value Chain’ led by Professor Judy Muthuri (2022) Nottingham University Business School
‘Decolonising the BBC Archive’ project with Dr Eleni Liarou, Dept. Film, Media and Cultural Studies, BirkBeck University (2022-2023)
‘Women Entrepreneurs and Legitimation’ by Dr Isobel O’Neil (Nottingham University Business School) and Dr Janine Swail (University of Auckland, New Zealand), research participant and learning resource developer (2016 – 2019)
‘The role of the Black Community in the Miners’ Strike of 1984/5′ by Lucy Cann (UCL, University of London). A selection of quotes from audio recordings with former coal miners included in dissertation and referenced (2016)
Listing in the Black British History Directory, Institute of Commonwealth Studies, School of Advanced Study, University of London (2015) https://blackbritishhistory.co.uk/2015/norma-gregory/

5. George Africanus (c1763-1834) Heritage Preservation & Education

Installation of the first, national blue heritage plaque to a person of African descent in Nottingham, dedicated to the entrepreneur George Africanus (c1763-1834) 9th October 2014, Victoria Street Nottingham
https://www.normagregory.com/gallerysee ‘Heritage’. https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/History/News-Events/Norma-Gregory.aspx
Historian contributor, Slave to Citizen, The George Africanus Story, documentary film by Farai Roots. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIpMCphzAZA
Guest official for naming of the NET George Africanus tram on 22nd August 2015https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ign6tEfI8Hs documentary video by Michael Walker.
The Voice (newspaper), September 3-9, 2015, page 9. ‘Former Slave turned Entrepreneur has Tram Named in his Honour’. https://www.voice-online.co.uk/article/slave-turned-entrepreneur-has-tram-named-his-honour
George Africanus, Civic ceremony presentation 9th October 2014 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbyTWsF98lUfilmed by Michael Walker @ juxtaClip Video.
George Africanus Society UK Facebook page established 20/08/15 https://www.facebook.com/georgeafricanus
Nottingham Post (newspaper) April 1st 2015, page 13. ‘By George, Norma’s Found a rich vein of social history’. (no longer online)
New local beer produced by Castle Rock Brewery, Nottingham in memory of George Africanus https://www.castlerockbrewery.co.uk/nottinghamian-ale-great-african/ and https://www.voice-online.co.uk/article/raise-glass-nottingham’s-african-hero
Nottingham Post (newspaper) April 4th 2014, page 5. New beer comes to a head, by George!’ ( no longer online)
George Africanus, HLF Project, Belong Nottingham 2013-2014. Project management steering group member. Training provider for project volunteers in media skills/ Journalism. Copy writer for George Africanus Calendar 2015 project and research support.
Nottinghamshire Family History Society presentation/talk: A Journey with George Africanus. 19th October 2016. At the Mechanics Institute, Nottingham.
Nottingham University presentation/talk: A Journey with George Africanus. 7th October 2015.

6. Nottingham Carnival Heritage Preservation

Nottingham Carnival management team member, 2013-2023, with Richard Renwick, former CEO of Tuntum Housing Association and Nottingham Carnival management team
Project Coordinator and researcher of the Nottingham Carnival Heritage Project (Phases 2, 3, 4) a heritage lottery funded project by Tuntum Housing Association. https://nottinghamcarnivalheritage.com/?page_id=10709and https://www.facebook.com/nottscarnivalheritageproject
Co-writer with Glenis Williams of seven exhibition panels. Copywriter and content manager for Nottingham Carnival online archive.

**7. Digging Deep, Miners of African Caribbean Heritage Touring Exhibition – Curator /Tour Manager**

Durham University, Ustinov College in collaboration with the Anthropology Department 2022
Durham Castle, October 2022
The Coal Authority, Nottinghamshire, October 2022 & October 2023
The Common Room of the Great North (formerly The Mining Institute) Newcastle, September – November 2021 https://thecommonroom.org.uk/programme/whats-on/
Woodhorn Mining Museum, Northumberland. Curator’s ‘Walk & Talk’ video, October 2020 https://vimeo.com/467420404/b9b76d9b9b

Woodhorn Mining Museum, Ashington Northumberland 3rd October 2020 – 1st November 2020
National Coal Mining Museum for England, Yorkshire, 21st September 2019 – 8th March 2020 https://www.ncm.org.uk/whats-on/digging-deep-miners-of-african-caribbean-heritage
Pontypridd Heritage Museum, Wales 29th April 2019 – 31st May 2019
New Art Exchange Nottingham, 29th September 2018 – 24th October 2018, https://www.nae.org.uk/exhibition/digging-deep/144
Nottingham Carnival (2016, 2017, 2018)
Community Conversations, City Arts Nottingham. A project led by Sasizo Phiri and Rachel Wilson Imogen Wilcocks https://open.spotify.com/show/7FuzShUr0PIzWoH02RoLBH?go=1&utm_source=embed_v3&si=hGVsI3M0QEGIp5lJxhjokg&t=0&nd=1

8. Community heritage work

Jamaica Independence Day (6th August), various talks and presentations
Jamaica High Commission 2nd Jamaican Experience, Culture & Literary Event, Waterlow Park, London. 30th May 2016.https://www.voice-online.co.uk/article/mini-calabash-literary-event-hits-uk-may-30and https://www.idelick.com/jamaciahc/ and https://www.jhcuk.org/assets/files/JHC%20Newsletter%20-%20Year%20in%20Review%202015.pdf
Interview with Pitman Brown, Part 1 & 2, 7th August 2013 (no longer on YouTube)
Rockers, Soulheads and Lovers: Sound Systems Back in the Day. Exhibition contributor of selected images, interview and consultancy https://www.nae.org.uk/event/gallery-tour-sound-systems-back-in-da/302
Interview with Lee Arbouin, author https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6vprYJfgaA
Nottingham Women’s History Group presentation ‘Women Pioneers of African Heritage: their Significance and Legacy’ 30th April 2016.
Black Achievers Awards 2016 https://www.facebook.com/theblackachieversawards/videos/693193450846504/

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Biography

Norma Jacqueline Gregory was born in Nottingham in 1969. The daughter of 1960s Jamaican migrants, Norma sought self-development by generating knowledge through her love of education, literature, creative arts, photography, media production and in particular, African history linked to the UK.

Norma currently works as a heritage/museums consultant/ project manager, historian (writer/researcher) and exhibition curator within the heritage and media sectors. She is director and founder of Nottingham News Centre (see www.nottinghamnewscentre.com) a heritage and community media organisation, established in 2013, researching and preserving diverse heritage news, providing heritage management support to various organisations and facilitating the production and dissemination of heritage educational resources.

Norma Gregory completed many years of mentoring and teaching employment in various schools and higher education institutions across London and Nottingham, which encouraged her to pursue her goals of personal and professional autonomy as an educator, author, speaker and media producer. She is an honoured recipient of an Alumni Laureate Award 2017 presented for her dedication to heritage and community education, by the University of Nottingham.

With many years’ experience in educational and media settings Norma says, “On a more personal note, in my early adult life, I found my formal, re-education to be my ‘lifeline’ in both its metaphorical and literal sense. I started reading books earnestly and with passion, took the steps towards personal renewal through further and then higher education. I have never looked back since then and now relish opportunities to progress and to support organisations and individuals through my work in media, across museums for the heritage sector.”

Academic career summary

UCL Institute of Education, University of London MA degree in Effective Learning / Pedagogy, 2001-2005
University of Nottingham PGCE/GTP Certificate in Education, Secondary English, 2009-2010,
St Mary’s University, Twickenham London BA Hons. degree in English Literature/Language with Theology & Religious Studies, 1996-1999, Grade 2:1
Liverpool John Moores University Post. Grad Certificate in Learning Mentoring, distance learning, 2004 Distinction.
College of North East London (CONEL) Radio & Print Journalism (City & Guilds) gained in 1996, awarded in 1997 Distinction.

Artistic / Curatorial summary

Royal College of Art, London Curating Contemporary Art and Design: Theory and Practice, July 2019
Black Miners Museum. Norma Gregory’s heritage research and heritage management activities have included collating and sharing oral histories from coal miners of African heritage from across the UK, through the receipt of National Heritage Lottery Awards (in 2015-2016, 2017-2019, 2019-2021). Norma has been a successful heritage project manager for various organisations and initiatives and led the heritage project collating a history of the Nottingham Carnival, in association with Tuntum Housing Association, Nottingham see https://nottinghamcarnivalheritage.com/?page.id=11694.
Curator, Digging Deep Exhibition national touring from 2018 to date.

In October 2014, Norma Gregory orchestrated and sponsored (through Nottingham News Centre) the first blue heritage plaque in the City of Nottingham for George Africanus (c1763-1834) with the support of Nottingham City Council and partnership work with Nubian Jak Community Trust blue plaque scheme, London. This initiative formally commemorated the place of residence for George Africanus and family on Victoria St (formerly Chandler’s Lane) Nottingham, the location of his business and many life achievements of an 18th century entrepreneur of African heritage, in the city of Nottingham, originally researched into by Christopher Weir, Len Garrison, Ray Gale among others.

In August 2015, Nottingham Express Transit (NET) and Nottingham City Council launched the George Africanus tram, unveiled by Norma Gregory and Councillor Jane Urquhart. Norma has since launched the George Africanus Society UK through social media to promote knowledge sharing and education.
through history. See https://www.thetram.net/tram-named-in-honour-of-nottinghams-first-black-entrepreneur.aspx#TramNamedInHonourOfNottingham’sFirstBlackEntrepreneur

Speaker & Presenter

Norma Gregory has been guest speaker at the following organisations and institutions:

Fiserv Fintech Company (UK) BHM 2023 staff presentation, October 2023
Association for Heritage Interpretation (AHI) Conference, October 2023
Windrush 75 Years, June 2023
Nottingham Probation Service, February 2023
Heritage Compass Symposium, Business Support England, January 2023
Durham University, Ustinov College, October 2022
The Coal Authority, Nottinghamshire, October 2022 and 2023
Oral History workshop, ‘We Need New Stories‘ a project by Fifth Word Nottingham, October 2022
Nottingham Trent University, Centre for the Study of Inequality, Culture and Difference, July 2022
Birkbeck University London, ‘What is Public History Now?’ public workshop, July 2022
Social History Curators’ Group (SHCG) Conference, October 2021
Holy Family Catholic Primary School, Ealing London, history presentation to Yr 5 pupils, October 2021
The Common Room of the Great North (formerly The Mining Institute) Newcastle, public lecture October 2021
‘Unity in the Community’, public talk, October 2021
On Behalf of the People: Work, Community and Class in the British Coal Industry 1947-1994, Loughborough, September 2021
Association of Anaesthesia, Annual Congress, September 2021
Windrush Day 2021, partnership event with Doncaster City Council & Doncaster African Caribbean Support Group, CAST Cinema Doncaster, 22nd June 2021
Windrush Day 2021, Nottinghamshire Primary Care Racial Equity & Diversity Working Group, 22nd June 2021
Migration Museum, Migration Network North East and Yorkshire event, 26th January 2021
WOMANZVUE, literary evening celebrating Black Writing, December 2020
Llafur – Welsh People’s History Society 2020 Conference, December 2020
Archivist & Record Keepers Association (ARA), online webinar on equality and diversity, June 2020
International Woman’s Day 2020, The Entrepreneur Collection Chapter 4, March 2020
International Women’s Day 2020, University of Nottingham, March 2020
Frederick Douglass Centre, Newcastle University, November 2019, official opening of the building November, 2019
Probation Service, Nottingham, November 2019, October 2021
Coal Authority, Nottinghamshire, October 2019
UNITE Holborn London (Annual Black History Month Event), October 2019
Black Achievers Awards Nottingham, October 2019
Labour Group, Porchester Branch Nottinghamshire, October 2019
JUNO Women’s Aid Nottingham & Nottinghamshire, October 2019
National Coal Mining Museum, Wakefield, Yorkshire 2019 (formal opening of Digging Deep exhibition 21/09/19)
‘Migrants and Minorities in British Coalmining’, Nottingham Trent University Conference, July 2019, speaker
St Leonard’s Labour Group London (Streatham Labour Film screening of ‘The Battle of Orgreave’ and panel discussion) 2019
University of Reading (joint presentation in Nottingham), 2019
Preston Black History Group, 2018
Huddersfield Windrush Festival, 2018
New Art Exchange, Nottingham, Digging Deep Photography Exhibition, 2018
Historic England podcast series, ‘Irreplaceable: A History of England in 10 Places’, Power, Protest & Progress’, 2018
Oral History Society Conference, Belfast, Ireland, 2018
Black Miners’ National Reunion event, April, 2018
Leicester Black Workers Group, Leicester City Council, October 2018
University of Strathclyde, Scottish Oral History Centre, November 2017
University of Nottingham, 2016, 2017
Nottingham Trent University 2016, 2022
Birmingham University, ‘The Meaning of Black History in Britain and Beyond’, November 2016
Institute of Commonwealth Studies, School of Advanced Study University of London. What’s Happening in Black History? Workshops: II (University of Liverpool); IV (Bristol, 2016); VII (University of London)
Black Cultural Archives, Brixton, London
NewVic Sixth Form College, East London, November 2015
Nottinghamshire Family History Society
Nottingham Women’s History Group, April 2016
Martin Jackman Centre, Nottingham, October 2015
Marcus Garvey Centre, Nottingham, October 2015
Framework Housing Association, Nottingham, October 2015
Waterstones Bookshop, Nottingham, October 2015
Five Leaves Bookshop, Nottingham, 2015
The Phenomenal Woman’s National Book Tour with fellow authors: Debbie Martin-Garcia, Amanda Epe,Eva Brown and Jenice Revers. DATES: London 18/0715, Nottingham 25/07/15, Birmingham 29/08/15 and Manchester 04/09/15.
Nottingham’s 4th Youth Heritage Conference, October 2015 (touring exhibition)
Backlit Nottingham – ‘Samuel Morley Threads’ Heritage Project, public lecture, November 2015
‘Celebrating Diversity and Heritage in the East Midlands’, Lottery Heritage Fund
BexLive Enterprise Awards, Wolverhampton
Black Ballad, London (UK based lifestyle platform), public lecture, October 2017

Authored Books & Publications

Jamaicans in Nottingham, Narratives and Reflections (Hansib Publications, 2015) a collection of oral history research, archive and contemporary images that include and highlight the contributions of pioneering Jamaicans in Nottingham of the 21st century, postcolonial liberation desired, reparations inspired era.

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Digging Deep Calendar, 2024 (Nottingham News Centre Publications, 2023) a photographic, educational calendar including inspirational quotes, archive and contemporary images from the Black Miners Museum Archives and includes significant dates to remember and to reflect on, relating to diverse UK industrial history.

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Digging Deep Windrush Miners & Their Industrial Contributions, COLOURING BOOK (Nottingham News Centre Publications, 2023) an industrial heritage educational activity book, including illustrations, images and industrial heritage facts and interesting information. For use by educators, home school learners, schools and people wanting access to a creative, unique resource that celebrates UK industrial heritage and the vibrant, diverse communities and individuals involved, that brought industry to life.

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EDI Help Guide (Nottingham News Centre Publications, 2023) a self- development publication to support equality diversity and inclusion (EDI) good practice and provision This help guide includes case studies, examples of good practice, images, heritage information and much more. To support heritage practitioners, volunteers and people working within museums and the heritage sector, with a particular focus on EDI, entrepreneurship and sector sustainability. For use by heritage educators, heritage related entrepreneurs, EDI designated professionals, heritage curators, corporate organisations and those wanting to learn more about EDI in practice and making lasting difference for all.

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An Introduction Sharing and Celebrating Diverse Industrial Heritage (Nottingham News Centre Publications, 2023) an industrial heritage educational toolkit of EDI ideas, tips with tried and tested activities for industrial heritage practitioners, curators and enthusiasts, to improve inclusive practice within industrial heritage museums and heritage programmes, industrial heritage focused projects and other social history initiatives, in the UK and worldwide.

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Crooked Carousel: Selected Poetry (Nottingham News Centre Publishing, 2016). Poetry reflecting the challenges and achievements of Black British womanist experiences and desires embedded within displaced British cultural, religious and postmodern contexts.

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Awards (recipient of the following)

University of Nottingham, Degree of Doctor of Letters, honours causa, winter 2023
Nottinghamshire County Council , ‘Best Community Project, ‘Digging Deep Heritage Project’, Pride of Gedling Awards 2023
Nottingham City Council Heritage Partnership, Heritage Champion 2020
Sandford Award for Informal Learning (SAIL) 2019
Windrush Awards 2018 (Nottingham), Inspirational Leadership Award
Alumni Laureate Award 2017, University of Nottingham
Mayor of Nottingham formal commendation, 2017
Black Achievers’ Awards 2016 (Nottingham): Category for Arts, Culture & Music (Best Female)
BexLive Black Enterprise Awards 2016 (Birmingham): Community Champion
Heritage Lottery Funding, HLF (2015-2016 & 2017-2019, 2019-2021)
Associate Member, Postcolonial Studies Centre (Nottingham Trent University)
Big Lottery Fund, Awards for All, 2007 & 2013
Millennium Commission Award, 2000 ‘Black British Poets’ media project.
Oral History Society Conference 2018, June 28-29, Queens University Belfast Ireland, Bursary Award recipient. Speaker (29.06.2018).

Award nominations (shortlisted)

Social Entrepreneurs UK, ‘Women’s Champion,’ Social Enterprise Awards 2023
Museum Association Awards 2020, ‘Radical Changemaker Award’
Gedling Borough Council, Awards International Women’s Day, Woman of Influence – Finalist, 2017
Women4Africa 2016: Community Leader of the Year
Excellence in Diversity Award 2016: Education Sector
BexLive Awards 2015 (Birmingham): Diverse Enterprise
BEFFTA Awards 2015 (London): Best Author

As Sponsor

Black Achievers Award, 2019 (Nottingham)
BexLive Enterprise Awards, 2017 (Wolverhampton) and presenter of the ‘Diverse Company/organisation’ award.

Board Member / Directorships

National Coal Mining Museum for England: Trustee, Non-Executive Director, (November 2018-November 2020)
UNESCO, Nottingham City of Literature: Collaborative Board member (2018)
Nottingham News Centre CIC (2013 to date)