Wednesday 23 September 2026 7.30pm NO NEED TO BOOK
Our September talk introduces the rationale for focusing on African lives in northern England and will look, in particular, at Heaton and the wider city of Newcastle. It links Heaton’s George Stanley, manager of the Tyne Theatre to the theatre’s black performers from the Black Minstrels to David Olusoga. But Heaton has another story, that of enslavers profiting from the ‘emancipation’ of enslaved Africans, an emancipation which was fiercely advocated by many visitors to Newcastle including Olaudah Equiano. We are slowly recovering the stories of uncelebrated black workers such as John Roach who ran two catering establishments in Newcastle and is buried in Jesmond Old Cemetery. Are there uncelebrated black workers in Heaton too?
Our Speaker
Our speaker, Dr Beverley Prevatt Goldstein, is coordinator of African Lives in Northern England. She is an activist and academic well known for her work on social work practice,equalities and the history and experiences of African communities in the UK. Her lifelong commitment to anti-racism has been honoured with an honorary doctorate from Northumbria University.
Venue
This event will take place at St George’s United Reformed Church on Newton Road, High Heaton NE7 7HP. It is on the corner with Boundary Gardens, the same block as Heaton Stannington’s football ground, Willow (formerly Grounsell) Park.
There are excellent public transport links including bus numbers 18, 38, 52 and 553, which stop right by the church.
There is car parking on the surrounding streets.
Booking
The event is free to Heaton History Group members and costs £2.50 for non-members. There’s no need to book. Just turn up on the night.
