Cedric Clarke

Cedric Clarke is a retired British Labour politician. He was the first black Leeds City Councillor, serving from 1980 to 1990 and was made an Honorary Alderman of Leeds in 2016

Cedric Clarke
Leeds City Councillor
for Chapel Allerton Ward
In office
1980 – 1990
Succeeded byNorma Hutchinson
Personal details
Political partyLabour

Personal life

Prior to his election as a councillor, Clarke worked as a plasterer and lived in Chapeltown with his wife and three children.[1] Active in the local community, Clarke volunteered with probation services and was a trainee preacher at Roscoe Methodist Church.[1] He established the United Caribbean Association, along with the founder of Leeds West Indian Carnival, Arthur France.[2]

Career

Clarke was elected to represent the Chapel Allerton ward in 1980, becoming the first African-Caribbean councillor in Leeds.[3][1] He was involved with a number of council initiatives, for example chairing the Equal Opportunities Committee for Leeds City Council.[4][5] Within three years of being elected, Clarke and his fellow-councillors introduced 220 new houses to the area, consistent street-cleaning, homes for the elderly, new nursery units and support for small businesses.[1] Despite these achievements he lost his seat on Leeds City Council in 1990.[1]

Honours

In 2016 Clarke was appointed an Honorary Alderman of Leeds in recognition of his work in the city.[2]

See also

References
  1. "People of Leeds #2: Cedric Clarke". The Secret Library | Leeds Libraries Heritage Blog. 8 June 2018. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  2. "New additions to Leeds roll of honour". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  3. "Gallic flair". www.bbc.co.uk. BBC. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  4. Equality, Commission for Racial. Positive Action in Local Authority Employment:Seminar Proceedings at Leeds Civic Hall, Thursday 4 December 1986 (Report). Commission for Racial Equality. JSTOR community.28327917.
  5. Municipal Review & AMA News. Association of Metropolitan Authorities. 1987.
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