I was on Chatham railway station when this plaque was being unveiled in the “Up” platform waiting room, but was not permitted entry during the ceremony. Every time I have been there since, the door to the waiting room has been locked, but finally, after 13 months, I can bring you this;

This plaque was unveiled on 24th September 2020 to commemorate former British Rail guard and Chatham resident Asquith Xavier 18th July 1920 - 18th June 1980 who broke the colour bar at Euston station on 15th August 1966

Asquith migrated to England from the British colonial Caribbean island of Dominica in April 1958. As part of the “Windrush generation” looking for better opportunities, he answered the call to come and help rebuild the weakened British economy following World War 2. He gained employment with British Rail as a porter before becoming a guard at Marylebone depot in London.

In 1966 when the Guards link at Marylebone depot was closed, he applied for a transfer to London Euston station. Asquith was told that he was denied the job due to an unofficial “colour bar” which operated at the station, excluding black people from working in customer-facing roles.

Dissatisfied with this decision, Asquith successfully campaigned to end the racial discrimination practised by British Rail, with the support of Jimmy Pendergast, Branch Secretary at the National Union of Railwaymen, and Barbara Castle, the Secretary of State for Transport.

As a result of this hard-fought battle, on 15th August 1966, Asquith became the first non-white guard to be employed at Euston Station, although he received death threats, and had to be assigned a police escort.

In 1972, Asquith and his family moved from London to Chatham, from where he commuted every day by train. Asquith's courage and moral strength will always be remembered. He defied racial prejudice. His battle changed Great Britain. His fight for justice led to changes to the 1968 Race Relations Act, making it illegal to refuse employment, housing or public services to an individual on the grounds of their race.