Person    | Male  Born 8/11/1919  Died 13/2/2010

Cy Grant

Actor, musician, writer and poet. Born Cyril Ewart Lionel Grant in Beterverwagting, British Guiana (modern day Guyana). He served in the Royal Air Force during WW2, and in Britain, he qualified as a barrister, but was unable to find work. He was the first black person to appear regularly on British television, and achieved fame in the television programme 'Tonight' where he sang news items in a calypso style.

He went on to perform in the theatre, and was the voice of Lieutenant Green in 'Captain Scarlett and the Mysterons' on television. In 1974 he set up the Drum Arts Centre to provide opportunities for black artistic talent. In a posthumous ceremony at the House of Lords, he was honoured as an 'inspirational example' of how black and white servicemen and women fought alongside one another in both world wars.

Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Cy Grant

Commemorated ati

Cy Grant

Cy Grant, 1919 - 2010, activist,writer,musician, pioneering actor and WWII RA...

Read More

Other Subjects

D. G. Pollock

D. G. Pollock

J. Lyons & Co. Ltd. staff member who died in WW1.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Carabiniers

Carabiniers

Former cavalry regiment, officially the Sixth Dragoon Guards. They participated in putting down the rebellion of Bonnie Prince Charlie in 1745-46 and fought in the Peninsular, Crimean and Boer Wars...

Group, Armed Forces

1 memorial
William, 5th Viscount Howe

William, 5th Viscount Howe

A professional soldier who served with distinction in America, at both the siege of Louisburg and the capture of Quebec in 1759. He was Commander-in-Chief of the British Army during the first part ...

Person, Armed Forces, Politics & Administration, USA

1 memorial
R. H. Galliford

R. H. Galliford

Resident of the Central Ward, Hendon who served and died in WW1.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Battle of Brentford, 1642

Battle of Brentford, 1642

One of the many battles of the English Civil War. King Charles's forces were advancing on London. Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex attempted to stop them at the Brentford bridge. A small pitched...

Event, Armed Forces

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Nell Gwynne

Nell Gwynne

Eleanor Gwyn, Gwynn, Gwynne, whatever.  Born Hereford. Rumoured to have lived at Lauderdale House as the mistress of Charles II, where she dangled her first-born from a window to scare the King int...

Person, Royalty, Seriously Famous, Theatre

4 memorials
Metropolitan Borough of Bethnal Green

Metropolitan Borough of Bethnal Green

Bethnal Green was formed as a civil parish from the Bethnal Green hamlet in Stepney ancient parish. 1889 it became part of the County of London. 1900 it became a metropolitan borough. 1965 it was a...

Group, Politics & Administration

8 memorials
Tower Hill Martyrs - Kilmarnock & Balmerino

Tower Hill Martyrs - Kilmarnock & Balmerino

EC3, Trinity Square

Brenda Cook helpfully suggested we refer to the Newgate Calendar’s account of these executions and we found them there under the heading ...

2 subjects commemorated