England Our England
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€31.99
Through a series of original interviews, specially commissioned photography and fascinating archive material, England Our England tells the personal stories of the black and Asian pioneers who crossed the waters to make Britain their home.
Rich portraits and moving personal accounts show how they dealt bravely with the shock of rejection and cold weather, the difficulties of finding work and making connections with the British, but also how their achievements ultimately transcended both their own expectations and those of the country in which they came to live, creating the multicultural society that we know today and a rich legacy for future generations.
The book includes interviews with Russell Henderson, co-founder of the Notting Hill Carnival, Yvonne Bailey-Smith, mother of novelist Zadie Smith, playwright Mustapha Matura, film director Horace Ové and Deloris Smith, mother of singer Beverley Knight.
Gurnek Bains came over to Britain at the age of six from the Punjab in India. He is a psychologist by background and Managing Partner of the leadership consulting firm Global Future. He is also CEO of Global Future a think-tank devoted to flying the flag for an open and inclusive world. Gurnek is also on the board of Intertek PLC as well as Chair of Akram Khan, a leading dance company championing a uniquely British Asian art form.
Bryony Heard has worked in the arts and entertainment industry for over 20 years. She began her career as a backing singer for David Bowie and other artists, as well as writing songs for films and developing artists. She has a degree in theatrical costume and set design from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. More recently Bryony has been an archivist for the Always Print The Myth Exhibition at the V&A. She is an advisor to the Global Future Arts and Culture Board.
Kylie Bains came to England from Australia in 1991 and has two mixed-race children of Indian-Australian decent. She is passionate about embracing individual and cultural diversity which led to her co-founding the Global Future think-tank and leadership consultancy. She is a business psychologist, key author of Meaning Inc: The Blueprint for Business Success in the 21st Century and was previously a director of YSC, a global leadership consultancy.