REMEMBERING ASQUITH

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: october 2020 :: RMTnews 24 A plaque to commemorate the memory of British Rail guard Asquith Xavier who broke the colour bar at Euston station in 1966 was unveiled in the waiting Room at Platform One Chatham Station in Kent last month. As RMT News reported in September Asquith Xavier was a Chatham resident and a Guard with British Rail and played a key role in challenging the racist colour bars on BR and was part of a wider issue that saw a massive change in the 1968 Race Relations Act. RMT backed a campaign by Asquiths’ family to erect a plaque at his home station of Chatham and Southeastern and Network Rail contributed to it becoming a reality. The funding came from Southeastern, Network Rail and the local RMT branch. Addressing the ceremony, RMT general secretary Mick Cash said that we should remember the brave actions of Asquith Xavier and those NUR officials such as Jimmy Prendergast who supported him in a campaign which eventually defeated the colour bar at Euston station. “We owe so much to those RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: october 2020 :: RMTnews REMEMBERING ASQ Plaque unveiled to honour NUR member Asquith Xavier in his home town Camaelia Xavier-Chihota