Consultant Profile
![NNC Norma Gregory copy 2](https://normagregory.sv1.bonline.site/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/NNC-Norma-Gregory-copy-2.jpg)
Portrait: David Severn
Norma Jacqueline Gregory (MA, BA, PGCE, PG Cert.)
Norma Gregory is a cultural heritage practitioner. She has researched and produced quality, heritage-related media products, educational resources and exhibitions in relation to African / African Caribbean experiences in the UK, helping to develop, expand and enrich available heritage as well as helping to address misrepresentations of history. Her company works in active partnership with national and international organisations, seeking to enhance and to expand current heritage provision and access.
From print and broadcast media, publications, exhibitions, displays and memorials, Norma Gregory has also conducted talks and presentations to enhance public knowledge regarding the inclusion and celebration of African history into mainstream settings.
Through her social enterprise, Nottingham News Centre CIC, founded in 2013 (see www.nottinghamnewscentre.com), she regularly sponsors and supports events and activities that promote heritage, education, achievement, inclusion and equality (EDI) for all people across the globe.
Diverse heritage achievements & contributions to knowledge
Coal Miners of African Caribbean Heritage
- Black Miners Museum founder and director. Research archive at blackcoalminers.com
- The lost story of Britain’s Black Miners https://www.britsafe.org/publications/safety-management-magazine/safety-management-magazine/2021/the-lost-story-of-britain-s-black-miners/
- Wales’ Black Miners, co-production in collaboration with BBC Wales, October 2020 https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000n9rx/wales-black-miners
- 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
- ‘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
- BBCBargain 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 articlehttps://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’.
- Black Miners Museum YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOQGndfi7h8HolBRxnEv1Vg
Digging Deep Exhibition – Curator /Tour Manager
- Durham Castle, October- January 2023
- Anthropology Department, Durham University, October 2022- January 2023
- The Common Room of the Great North (the former Mining Institute), Newcastle, 25th September – 1st November 2021 https://thecommonroom.org.uk/digging-deep-coal-miners-of-african-caribbean-heritage-the-north-east-exhibition/
- 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)
![IMG_1091](https://nottingham-news-centre.sv1.bonline.site/wp-content/uploads/sites/1021/2020/10/IMG_1091-scaled.jpg)
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.
Broadcast media output
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‘Helping People Through Heritage’ podcast, part of ‘What’s the Point?’ podcast series by Byron Armstrong https://wtppod.buzzsprout.com/2068680/11787072-helping-people-through-heritage-with-norma-gregory
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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/
- https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2018/aug/07/bristol-bus-boycott-part-of-top-10-list-celebrating-protest-in-england
- 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
- 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)
Books (print), publications (print & online), academic journal articles & conference papers
- ‘An Introduction to Sharing and Celebrating Diverse Industrial Heritage’ help guide, 2022 https://issuu.com/normagregory2/docs/edi_help_guide_arts_phil_-3
- Conference paper: ‘Resilient Resistance: curating Black Miners’ Heritage’, Social History Curators’ Conference, 7th October 2021
- Public lecture: ‘Digging Deep Coal Miners of African Caribbean Heritage & the North East’ at The Common Room of the Great North (the former Mining Institute), Newcastle, 1st October 2021
- Conference paper: ‘Black Miners Research Project’ for ‘On Behalf of the People; Work, Community and Class in the British Coal Industry, 1947-1994’, end of project symposium, Loughborough, 13th September 2021
- 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
- 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
Research Team participant/ contributor
- Enhancing the Performance of Kenya’s Gemstone Mine-to-Market Value Chain by Professor Judy Muthuri and partners. Part os the Impact Leaders Programme (University of Nottingham Business School) 2022.
- ‘Women Entrepreneurs and Legitimation’ by Dr Isobel O’Neil (Nottingham University Business School) and Dr Janine Swail (University of Auckland, New Zealand), 2016 – 2019 research participant and learning resource developer.
- ‘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) https://blackbritishhistory.co.uk/2015/norma-gregory/
![IMG_3286 1](https://normagregory.sv1.bonline.site/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/IMG_3286-1.jpg)
Nottingham Carnival Heritage Preservation
- 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.
- Nottingham Carnival Management team member 2013-2019
Community heritage work
- 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 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqgU4r8YidEPart 1, 7th August 2013
- Interview with Pitman Brown https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6CXH7aSTKoPart 2, 7th August 2013
- 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
![biography-1](https://normagregory.sv1.bonline.site/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/biography-1.jpg)
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, the arts, media and in particular, African history linked to the UK.
Norma currently works as a heritage consultant, historian, curator within the heritage project management 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 by the University of Nottingham.
With over twenty-seven 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 and 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)
- 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
- 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-)
![](https://normagregory.sv1.bonline.site/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/IMG_3286-1.jpg)
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 Len Garrison, Ray Gale among others.
![](https://normagregory.sv1.bonline.site/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/IMG_3286-1-1.jpg)
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
![Speaker-Presenter-1](https://normagregory.sv1.bonline.site/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Speaker-Presenter-1.jpg)
![Speaker-Presenter-2](https://normagregory.sv1.bonline.site/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Speaker-Presenter-2.jpg)
Norma Gregory has been guest speaker at the following public events:
- The Common Room of the Great North, (the former Mining Institute) Newcastle, public lecture, October 2021
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Social History Curators’ Conference, October 2021
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Anaesthesia Annual Conference, September 2021
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‘On Behalf of the People; Work, Community and Class in the British Coal Industry, 1947-1994’, end of project symposium, Loughborough, September 2021
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Windrush Day 2021, Doncaster City Council & Doncaster African Caribbean Support Group, public commemoration event, June 2021
- Windrush Day 2021, Nottingham Primary Care Racial Equity & Diversity Working Group, tribute event, June 2021
- Womanzvue, Windrush Generation 2021, Tributes & Reflections, June 2021
- Llafur – Welsh People’s History Society 2020 Conference, December 2020
- Womanzvue, Literary evening celebrating Black writing, 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 (13/11/19), public lecture series
- Probation Service, Nottingham, November 2019
- 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 ‘Irreplaceable: A History of England in 10 Places, Power, Protest & Progress’, podcast series
- 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
- University of Nottingham
- Nottingham Trent University
- Birmingham University
- Institute of Commonwealth Studies, School of Advanced Study University of London. What’s Happening in Black History? Workshops: II (University of Liverpool); IV (Bristol); VII (University of London)
- National Black Cultural Archives, Brixton, London
- NewVic Sixth Form College, East London
- Nottinghamshire Family History Society
- Nottingham Women’s History Group
- Martin Jackman Centre, Nottingham
- Marcus Garvey Centre, Nottingham
- Framework Housing Association, Nottingham
- Waterstones Bookshop, Nottingham
- Five Leaves Bookshop, Nottingham
- 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
- Backlit Nottingham – ‘Samuel Morley Threads’ Heritage Project
- ‘Celebrating Diversity and Heritage in the East Midlands’, Lottery Heritage Fund
- BexLive Enterprise Awards, Wolverhampton
- Black Ballad, London (UK based lifestyle platform)
Authored Books & Writings
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Norma Gregory has written and published many articles and academic papers over the years concerning her topics of interest being: black British literary and social history, early narratives of the African diaspora with links to Britain, black British writers and personalities, black history in Nottingham, the Midlands and UK, black feminist theology and literature as well as producing community heritage news from diverse communities in Nottingham.
Examples of published books include:
Crooked Carousel: Selected Poetry (Nottingham News Centre Publishing, 2016), 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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Jamaicans in Nottingham, Narratives and Reflections (Hansib Publications, 2015) has enabled Norma to share her oral history research gathered from pioneering Jamaicans in Nottingham with local, national and international audiences.
She is committed to community development (on personal and professional levels) and an advocate for equality and inclusion through education and publishing.
Awards (recipient)
- 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)
- 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, 2020 (Nottingham)
- 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, from July 2018)
Diverse Heritage Services
(UK +44) 07984 825482
HERITAGE SERVICES
QUICK LINKS
COMPANY INFO
Castle Cavendish Business Centre
C/O RM Accounts
Dorking Road
Nottingham
England UK
NG7 5PN
(+44) 07984 825482
(+44) 0115 8713819
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