Bert_Carless

Bert Carless

Bert Carless

Jamaican-born politician in Birmingham, England

Egbert Sylvester Carless OBE was a politician in Birmingham, England.[1][2]

Quick Facts Born, Died ...

Carless was born in June 1933.[3] After working as diesel mechanic at a Jamaican sugar refining plant, he migrated to the United Kingdom, arriving in 1956.[2]

He was elected as the labour councillor for Aston ward in Birmingham, and was the first non-white councillor to sit on Birmingham City Council, serving until 1994.[2][1] He was re-elected, representing Ladywood Ward, in 1998, serving until 2002.[1] He was a member of the council's education committee.[4]

He was also chair of the board of governors of the city's Handsworth College, and oversaw its transition to be part of City College (now South & City College Birmingham.[2]

He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1998 Birthday Honours "For services to education and to the community in Birmingham".[5] He was also made an Honorary Alderman of the city of Birmingham, in 1994.[1]

He died as a result of cancer on 14 August 2003.[2][1] He had five children.[2]

A street in Perry Barr, Birmingham was named "Bert Carless Way"[lower-alpha 1] in around 2021.[4]

In December 2023, Carless' achievements were marked by the erection of a blue plaque in his honour, in a building at the Handsworth College campus.

Notes

  1. Bert Carless Way coordinates: 52.516722°N 1.897348°W / 52.516722; -1.897348 (Bert Carless Way)

References

  1. [1]
    "Death of Birmingham's First Black Councillor". Local Government Chronicle. 20 August 2003. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  2. [2]
    Jolly, Bradley; Clarke, Nathan (13 December 2023). "Brum's first Black councillor to be honoured - but activist says 'it's too late'". Birmingham Live. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  3. [3]
    "Egbert Sylvester CARLESS personal appointments". UK Government.
  4. [4]
    "Perry Barr street to be named after Birmingham's first black councillor". Birmingham City Council. 18 December 2020. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  5. [5]
    "No. 55155". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 June 1998. p. 10.
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