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| Sam King: Notting Hill Carnival founder and first black Southwark mayor dies | Sam King: Notting Hill Carnival founder and first black Southwark mayor dies |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A Jamaican immigrant who co-founded the Notting Hill Carnival and became the first black mayor of Southwark has died, his granddaughter has confirmed. | A Jamaican immigrant who co-founded the Notting Hill Carnival and became the first black mayor of Southwark has died, his granddaughter has confirmed. |
| Sam King MBE arrived in the UK on the Empire Windrush in 1948 and was elected as Mayor of Southwark in 1983. | Sam King MBE arrived in the UK on the Empire Windrush in 1948 and was elected as Mayor of Southwark in 1983. |
| A war veteran, he was also a driving force behind Britain's first black newspaper, the West Indian Gazette. | A war veteran, he was also a driving force behind Britain's first black newspaper, the West Indian Gazette. |
| Dione McDonald said the 90-year-old had been unwell in recent months and had passed away with his family around him. | Dione McDonald said the 90-year-old had been unwell in recent months and had passed away with his family around him. |
| Born in 1926, Sam King volunteered for the Royal Air Force as an engineer in 1944 after spotting an advert in the local paper. | Born in 1926, Sam King volunteered for the Royal Air Force as an engineer in 1944 after spotting an advert in the local paper. |
| In an interview last year, he said he had "left Portland, Jamaica, in temperatures of 75F (23C)." When he arrived in Britain the temperature was 39F (4C): "I thought I was going to die." | |
| After settling in Southwark, he found work as a postman and became an active campaigner in the community. | After settling in Southwark, he found work as a postman and became an active campaigner in the community. |
| In the mid-1950s he became circulation manager of the Brixton-based Gazette. | In the mid-1950s he became circulation manager of the Brixton-based Gazette. |
| He later helped organise the first Caribbean-style carnival in London which later became the first Notting Hill Carnival in 1964. | He later helped organise the first Caribbean-style carnival in London which later became the first Notting Hill Carnival in 1964. |
| Tributes have been paid to Mr King with many calling him a "pioneer" in British politics. | Tributes have been paid to Mr King with many calling him a "pioneer" in British politics. |
| Speaking to BBC Radio London, Labour MP Diane Abbott said Mr King was a "very dignified and very gentlemanly" person who helped break down barriers for black people in politics. | Speaking to BBC Radio London, Labour MP Diane Abbott said Mr King was a "very dignified and very gentlemanly" person who helped break down barriers for black people in politics. |
| "Someone like myself who was fortunate to become an MP stands on the shoulders of people like Sam King," she said. | "Someone like myself who was fortunate to become an MP stands on the shoulders of people like Sam King," she said. |
| Southwark Councillor Michael Situ tweeted that the World War Two veteran was "principled, inspiring and always willing to serve". | Southwark Councillor Michael Situ tweeted that the World War Two veteran was "principled, inspiring and always willing to serve". |