Wolverhampton commemorates Vanessa Elizabeth Brown OBE: A legacy of Windrush, community, and heritage.
Wolverhampton, 31 October 2025
The community gathered at the Wolverhampton Art Gallery in honour of the late Vanessa Elizabeth Brown OBE, a remarkable leader of the local community, a cultural champion and a lifelong champion of the Windrush generation, turning the space into a place that was proud, remembering and rejoicing.
A moment of pride and wonder prompted the city to formally unveil Vanessa Brown’s Legacy Walk Wolverhampton’s first Black History and Heritage Trail celebrating her tireless commitment to preserving these stories and the struggles and achievements of the African and Caribbean community throughout Wolverhampton and the Black Country. A night of rejoicing and remembrance. The event, which arrived during Black History Month, came at the same time as announcing that the Windrush Monument had been unveiled at the gallery, providing an impressive scene for an evening in which we paid our respects to one of Wolverhampton’s most heroic heroes.
Community members, family and friends, civic dignitaries and leaders gathered at the ceremony, The Mayor of Wolverhampton, Councillor Craig Collingswood, Former Mayor Councillor Sandra Samuels OBE and community leader Angela Verley, all paid an intimate homage to Vanessa’s life and contribution that was a part and parcel of community life at the same time. Mayor Collingswood called Vanessa’s
“extraordinary devotion to community and culture” and called her “a true daughter of Wolverhampton who gave voice to generations and whose name will be always present in Wolverhampton’s story”.
Former Mayor Sandra Samuels OBE remembered the proximity she and Vanessa once had and the countless projects they worked on together in the community: “Vanessa was an idea-driven, visionary woman — ambitious, caring and deeply committed to empowering others. She thought that by knowing our own history, we help build our tomorrow. This recognition is earned and long overdue” The respected community organiser and advocate Angela Verley spoke movingly of Vanessa’s legacy, saying:
“Vanessa gave her time, energy and heart to the people of this city. She played a part in preserving the Windrush story as a living history not a distant memory that has affected who we are to this day.”
Recognizing a Career of Service. Later in the evening, an award was presented to Vanessa Elizabeth Brown OBE posthumously and received by sister Mariah Brown on behalf of the Brown family. Mariah’s reception of the award gained applause across the audience – a touching recognition that gave an unforgettable insight into the admiration and love Vanessa had for her and across the room. Mariah Brown expressed thanks for the recognition in an emotional address, which also highlighted her sister’s lifelong commitment:
“Vanessa invested her life in raising other people up, in making sure that the stories of the Windrush generation — our parents, grandparents and pioneers — wouldn’t be forgotten. This honour would ensure that she is never forgotten and I know she would be immensely moved by the love here tonight.”
David Bennett, a historian who researched the Black Heritage Trail Project, served as a speaker. While he himself had never met Vanessa, Bennett offered commentary on the lasting impact of her efforts:
“I didn’t have the privilege of knowing Vanessa, but I know through her projects and through the testimonies of those who did work with her. She set a precedent that lives on to educate and uplift. Her vision for celebrating Black excellence and cultural pride is exactly what this walk is about.”
Vanessa Brown’s Legacy Walk: A Live Act. This newly appointed Vanessa Brown Legacy Walk is a pioneering initiative for Wolverhampton as a whole. Created in collaboration with the Black Heritage Walks Network, the pathway showcases landmark dates, individuals and events that honour the African and Caribbean communities contributions to the cultural, educational and social fabric of Wolverhampton. The walk encourages residents, schools, visitors and the world to travel across history beginning with early migration stories and ending with achievements by community leaders, artists, educators and activists linking the past to the present in a more accessible and impactful manner.
"It’s going to be a continuing learning opportunity, guiding young people to appreciate the diversity of their history in their hometown, which is important. A Legacy That Lives On. Vanessa Elizabeth Brown OBE and throughout her lifetime she battled to push in every direction of her life for equality, empowering others and keeping Windrush alive (in terms of equality and protecting the Windrush heritage as well as other Windrush communities with which the OBE was dedicated). She gained broad recognition for her contributions to community development and education and won accolades - she joined the OBE and gave a distinction as the most high profile service the prestigious OBE for serving society. She helped connect Black and Caribbean people of Wolverhampton's Black and Caribbean communities through her initiatives of mentorship and education, giving mentorship, support, and representation for countless people – giving hope, and in turn creating an opportunity to contribute and pride in one's belonging and sense of community. At the end of the ceremony, there was a quiet reflection session followed by a touching musical performance inspired by Caribbean culture -- in many ways a tribute to a woman whose legacy has crossed generations. At the end, Mariah Brown finished by parting with words that reverberated throughout the gallery and epitomized her sister’s legacy:
“Legends never die — they leave legacies. What will yours be?”
Vanessa Brown’s Legacy Walk is today and will remain as a lasting testament to her spirit and her vision and her leadership and her love. It is both a memorial and a movement — one that will be an inspiration to others to march proudly in the footsteps of those whom we knew.
