Ellie M Blake interviews Patrick Vernon, OBE.
As a schoolboy in the Midlands, Patrick Vernon encountered Enoch Powell, the MP who delivered the infamous ‘Rivers Of Blood’ speech.
“A group of us stood in front of these important white people as a plaque was unveiled … only years later did I learn it was him.”
That ceremony foreshadowed a lifetime of activism and storytelling. From Labour Councillor for Hackney to an OBE. He’s even had a building named after him!
Our interview comes several months after I met Patrick on a leadership programme. Today, he’s zooming in from his Hackney home; a cheerful sun sculpture hanging on the wall behind him.
Patrick recalls the proud display in the front room of his childhood home in Wolverhampton – with Jesus, the Queen and the West Indies cricket team holding places of honour while Elvis and Jim Reeves’ songs drifted in from his father’s radiogram.
These vibrant memories sharply contrast with the post-war gloom he also evokes; a bleakness deepened by widespread slum clearance programmes.
Featured in British Vogue as one of 20 activists ready to change the world, I ask when he first had grand ambitions. He shares:
“Like most students do in between hangovers and spicy curries, I always wanted to make a difference, whether through economic regeneration, welfare rights or mental health advocacy.”
After a postgraduate degree in law and international development, he’d hoped to champion Third World rights but ended up fighting poverty at the Citizens Advice Bureau. Later, his experience as the regional director for the charity Mind nurtured his skills in grassroots activism, by working with politicians and in media strategy.
“I never saw myself as an activist. I was always doing active things, which is different. It’s only when someone says, ‘You’re an activist,’ the penny drops.”
Patrick’s website Every Generation pulled him into storytelling 25 years ago, but it was 100 Great Black Britons which captured the public imagination. It garnered attention from the media and PR agencies too.
With a wry smile, he tells me about telephone calls he received:
“We’ve looked at your website, Mr Vernon and none of our clients are on there.”
He explains: “The site was about showcasing contributions across different sectors. Some high-profile Black individuals weren’t featured and got quite upset. But it wasn’t personal, we had our criteria.”
Five years ago, 100 Great Black Britons was published by the Hachette imprint, Robinson. In the introduction, Patrick refers to its legacy, which includes expanding diversity in national school curriculums. Another milestone was achieved when The Royal College Of Nursing formally acknowledged Mary Seacole alongside Florence Nightingale.
All Patrick’s campaigns, big or small, have involved either his backstory, the structural racism affecting the Black community, or someone’s lived experience as a case study for why the country should get involved. For example, working on his documentary, A Charmed Life, ignited his push for Windrush Day.
“Journalists did a great job highlighting individual cases of injustice. But they were seen as isolated incidents. When I was approached by one of the victims, I realised there was a pattern. That’s when I knew something was fundamentally wrong.”
Notably, it took eight years before 22 June was officially recognised as a day of celebration, the momentum galvanised by the Windrush scandal.
But it’s a lesser-known campaign that surfaces during our conversation. In the Spring of 2015, Patrick objected to the outcome of a regional flag competition. Essentially, a local newspaper constructed a narrative that weaponised words and turned public opinion against him.
“My parents and family were really worried about me. Even I thought coming out of the train station, there’d be someone waiting.”
This transpired a few months after the shocking attack on Charlie Hebdo, a satirical magazine based in Paris, which left 12 dead and 11 injured. It was a time of heightened anxiety, the UK terrorism level remaining at severe, and everything felt increasingly volatile. The emerging refugee crisis stirred up political polarisation and raised concerns far-right extremists might target Patrick.
As a precaution, Wolverhampton Council hired private security for a Black History Month event. Though physical violence didn’t materialise on that occasion, tragically Jo Cox was murdered the following year.
He tensely recounts what was clearly a difficult period for him personally. Patrick shares that, since then, the local newspaper responsible for his troubles has increased the number of Black journalists and changed editors: glimmers of progress after a tumultuous chapter.
This year, Patrick was appointed Pro-Chancellor For Health at The University Of Wolverhampton. A dedicated room in the library will house up to 9,000 books on history and politics from his private collection. It’s part of a wider initiative to advance activism through education and culture.
As someone who found Universities and libraries integral to becoming a writer, I’m especially moved. My MA in English Literature was a dream come true, and it was through the creative writing classes with Pen to Print that I first discovered Write On! magazine.
Patrick describes himself as an “evolving writer,” attending courses such as those provided by Arvon to sharpen his skills. It blows my mind to discover he’s got a few poems under his belt, too. He describes them as:
“A natural continuation from writing a blog or short piece, then changing it around to make it more impactful.”
Our Parents Did: Ode To Windrush Generation is published in the anthology Still Breathing, a copy of which he holds up to the screen while beaming. He’s pleased when I mirror this with my own copy. We chat about how engaged audiences are with his readings. While musing aloud about the possibility of taking a poetry course, Patrick tells me that he’s booked on a travel-writing one, hoping to capture the places his activism has taken him.
Unconfined by borders, he has conducted research in East Africa and participated in a multiregional fellowship project in America.
While discussing the importance of Black British history, I ask about ‘likkle but tallawah,’ ‘small and impactful.’ It’s a Jamaican expression
he mentions in his book Black Grief And Healing: Why We Need To Talk About Health Inequality, Trauma And Loss. He used it to describe Paulette Wilson, a victim of the Windrush catastrophe, whose death due to a mental health crisis is a stark reminder of the human cost of systemic failure.
I’m a digital enthusiast, so it’s inevitable we move on to artificial intelligence and social media. When I ask how useful they can be as tools for helping individuals or local movements to succeed today, Patrick is quick to respond.
“What used to take a week or two can now be done in an hour with AI. You can produce content quicker and with fewer experts than before.”
He adds that an online presence is not just important, it’s central; caveating it with: “You still need to convince journalists and media platforms your campaign is unique and has traction.”
With only a few minutes left, the question I’m most curious about is how he sees the future. Patrick’s words are urgent, echoing my own ideas.
“Despite access to technology and resources, Britain stands at a crossroads. The power of writing and communicating is going to be even more critical. People want to be inspired.”
An advocate for giving ourselves permission to write, he recommends making the most of the existing infrastructure of writing networks, groups and platforms, citing Write On! as a prime example.
Patrick grew up in Wolverhampton as a child of immigrant parents, working his way into national conversations and so directly influencing our culture. This hour together hasn’t just revealed what he’s accomplished, but how he’s arrived here. I was raised in Australia, an ethnic minority with no privilege to lean on, looking and sounding different. It’s incredible to meet someone who’s confronted similar barriers and crafted lasting change by writing and speaking with purpose.
We’re a writing magazine, so it’s fitting we return to his work in The Guardian, The Voice, The Independent, Huffington Post and as guest editor for Black History Month Magazine. To Patrick, the fact it’s all drawn from lived experience is key.
“People don’t think they’ve got a story to share or that they can write. You have the one per cent who will be up there in terms of those literary circles, but for the majority of us, we can share, can’t we?”
From visits to Downing Street to chairing NHS Birmingham and Solihull, Patrick’s journey is multifaceted. While it might seem unusual for an activist to lead a major public institution, it makes sense. Patrick’s knowledge and passion belong in boardrooms as well as ‘out here.’ His work doesn’t just celebrate cultural heritage, it reclaims it, shining a light on generational trauma. By championing untold stories and challenging injustice, he’s shaping a future grounded in empathy, equity and action.
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Connect with Ellie M Blake on TikTok and Instagram: @mycreativeeveryday
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Issue 26, featuring Patrick Vernon OBE, is out now. You will find it in libraries and other outlets. Alternatively, all current and previous editions can be found on our magazines page here.
You can hear great new ideas, creative work and writing tips on Write On! Audio. Find us on all major podcast platforms, including Apple and Google Podcasts and Spotify. Type Pen to Print into your browser and look for our logo, or find us on Podcasters.Spotify.com.
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