MONDAY 20th OCTOBER
CY GRANT in the RAF
6.45 for 7.15pm
DURNING LIBRARY
167 Kennington Lane, SE11. Tel: 020 7926 8682
‘Lancaster 4827 failed to return’ is Cy Grant’s title for his talk on a little-known side of his life – his experience of World War II as an RAF navigator – part of the Commonwealth crew of an RAF bomber. Grant, who was born in Guyana, was shot down over Germany and spent two years as a prisoner of war. A German newspaper announced his capture saying he was ‘a member of the RAF of indeterminate race’.
After the war he qualified as a barrister in London, and became a writer and cultural activist. He also found great success as an actor and singer in theatre, radio, TV and film.
Grant became one of the best known calypso singers in England in the late 1950s, due to nightly appearances on the BBCTV news magazine Tonight.
He was a chairman and co-founder of the Drum Arts Centre in the 70s, Director of Concord Multicultural Arts in the 80s and has produced arts festivals. He has written a book about steel bands, Ring of Steel. He also features in the Imperial War Museum’s ‘War to Windrush’ exhibition.
Light refreshments
Friends of the Durning Library/ Celebrating Age
Everyone welcome. No admission charge, but £2 donation is invited.
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