Ralph and John Went To Church: Ralph Thoresby and John Lewis

pleased to welcome our first first first speaker, the first first week we're doing it, uh Danny Brier. Danny is a local historian who is interested in black history and he's going to be talking to us today about uh Ralph Thby and his connection with uh the the first recorded black man in leads. So over to

you Danny. Thank you. Before we begin, it should be noted that this talk mentions the enslavement and the physical and sexual abuse of children and other topics some listeners may find upsetting. Some historical quotes have been altered to replace terms considered offensive. Chapter one. Alfred went to church. I am blessed. I am blessed every day of my life. I am

blessed when I wake up in the morning and when I lay my head to rest. Every day of my life I am blessed. [clears throat] On Wednesday the 6th of November 2024, the funeral of Alfred Gardner took place at the leads minster on Kirgate. Alfred or Ford as he was known had died

just over a month earlier at the age of 98. His death was reported across the nation by the Guardian, The Independent, The Mirror, the BGC, Sky News, The Voice, and others. Prince William, who had met Fred at his home in 2023, issued a public statement. A photograph of the pair together was included in the order of service.

At the minster on that cold Wednesday, Ford's coffin was draped in a Jamaican flag. As the coffin entered the minster, current and former members of the Caribbean cricket club paid homage by raising their bats in salute. Throughout the service, Jamaican music was played, including the dance hall classic I am blessed by Mr. Vegas.

Alfred Gardner had been born in Jamaica on the 12th of January 1926. As a young boy in 1944, he like thousands of others from the Caribbean joined the RAF and served as an engineer and mechanic during the Second World War. After the war, Ford settled in Horsef staying at the Green Banks hostel