In celebration of the brave Asquith Xavier

Written by Sita Raj Rani Rathore, Eagles & Employment Team Project Coordinator

One of the many names that has changed the world for the ethnic minority community, is Asquith Xavier, a brave family man who faced racial discrimination in the workplace.

Asquith was born on the 18th of July 1920 on the Island of Dominica and came to the UK in 1958 as part of the ‘Windrush generation’ to help rebuild Britain’s weakened economy following World War II. Settling in West London, he gained employment with British Rail as a Porter and then progressed to become a Guard at Marylebone Depot.

The freight link at Marylebone depot was closed in 1966, at which point Asquith applied for a transfer to London Euston Station. Asquith was sadly denied the job due to an unofficial ‘colour bar’ which operated at the station – which excluded Black people from working in customer-facing roles.

He went on to campaign to end the racial discrimination by the British Rail – and he succeeded. It was then that the first Race Relations Act was passed, in 1965, making it illegal to discriminate on the grounds of colour, race, ethnic or national origins in public places.

Asquith’s hard-fought battle meant that, on August 15, 1966, he became the first non-white guard to be employed at Euston Station.

Asquith refused to accept discrimination, his determination not only ended in him securing the job, but his pay was backdated to when he had first applied for the position. Subsequently, the Commission for Racial Equality was created. His campaign also led to the strengthening of the Race Relations Act (1968) which made it illegal to refuse housing, employment, or public services to people because of their ethnic background. This has helped paved the way for generations since and although it has not completely diminished racial discrimination, it has helped more people than ever secure their own destinies.

Aquith Xavier sadly passed away in 1980 but his legacy has lived on and during Black History Month 2016, Network Rail revealed a plaque in honour of this unsung hero at Euston Station.

As someone who assimilates with the ethnic minority community, this story really had an impact on me, and I am thankful that people like Aquith Xavier exist and have helped us be able to determine our own futures.

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