Jamaica-born Eric Irons, Britain's first black magistrate, honoured

Jamaica-born Eric Irons, who was Britain's first black magistrate, has been honoured as part of Black History Month celebrations in the United Kingdom.
 
The BBC reports that a plaque has been unveiled at the National Justice Museum to commemorate his life.

Irons was born in Jamaica in 1921 and then settled in Nottingham after serving in the in the Royal Air Force during World War Two.

Irons, who died in 2007, was a campaigner for social justice and became the UK's first black justice of the peace in 1962 and was given an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).

Irons' sons Adrian and Paul said he had devoted his whole life to "serving people of all colours, religion, age and the whole community".

"In so doing, not only was he a remarkable role model to his family, but his selfless and courageous work helped to ensure we have a more equitable understanding and tolerant society that benefits us all," they said.

Irons met his wife in Nottingham after the war and they went on to have six children and 16 grandchildren.

During the 1950s, while working at Chilwell Ordnance Depot, an Army base, he campaigned for better employment opportunities, health and education for black workers.

The museum said he was also instrumental in lifting a ban on black people working for a transport company and helped the city council address issues following the 1958 race riots in the St Ann's area of Nottingham.

After making history as the first black magistrate in 1962 he was later made an OBE in 1977 and continued to oversee court cases until he retired in 1991.

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