A new dawn for Ms Dawn
Dr Yvonne Thompson’s CBE | DL tribute to Ms Dawn Hill CBE, as she steps down from BCA’s Board of Trustees and becomes BCA’s first Lifetime Patron
The late John Lewis, American politician and civil rights activists once famously said when describing his work in 2020, “You are the light, never let anyone, any person or any force, dampen or diminish your light”. Those words could easily be used to embody the spirit and the force majeure that is the focus of this tribute, the indomitable, Dawn Hill CBE. Ms Dawn, as she is affectionately known, has a body of work in the public realm in the UK that spans over four decades and as we use this article to pay homage to her civic industry – we also show our respects to the new day that is dawning for our Ms Dawn, in her transition towards a more ceremonial role in the advancement of Black Cultural Archives.
Ms Dawn arrived in the UK from Jamaica at the tender age of 17 to join an NHS Nursing Cadet recruitment scheme to train as a nurse. (with aspirations of getting into the nursing profession.) Having completed her training as a State Registered Nurse (1960) Ms Dawn went on to the London School of Economics gaining Diplomas in Social Policy and Administration and Personnel Management. She has held senior management positions in the NHS, Social Services, Education community and health organisations and in management consultancy gaining Chartered Member of the Institute for Personnel Development (CIPD).
At that point even though she was not aware at the time, Ms Dawn was ready to take on her real life’s mission. Being central to a group of young radicals whose mission was to record the history of black people arriving and making history in the UK, and make it available for all to access locally, nationally, and internationally for generations to come.
Envisioned by archivist, historian, academic and lecturer Len Garrison, Black Cultural Archives, a repository, and custodian of Black history in the UK was born 40 years ago. Through Len Garrison’s leadership, Ms Dawn, along with other visionaries, friends, supporters and colleagues were central to bringing the archives from its inception to its physical, and permanent site at the iconic building, appropriately addressed as 1 Windrush Square, in Brixton.
Their chief aim, to make the Black Cultural Archive eponymous with Black British Culture here in the UK in all its forms.
From her career path as a State Registered Nurse with a background in social policy and administration through to her inspirational work in shaping the Black Cultural Archives, Ms Dawn’s body of work in the public space has been impressive to say the least:
Trustee, Mary Seacole Memorial Statue Appeal and President Mary Seacole (Legacy) Trust
Governor (elected patient representative) at Guy’s & St Thomas’ Hospital NHS Foundation Trust from 2009 to 2015 and a non-executive director from 1999 to 2007
Governor, Evelina Children’s Hospital School, St Thomas’ Hospital to present
Panel member, Lambeth education appeals – admissions, exclusions and employee dismissals
Member of the Lambeth library commission, 2011
Chair of management board, Blackliners HIV & AIDS and Sexual Health Services
Chair of Governors, Norwood Girls School, Lambeth, 1992 to 2000
Board member, African and Caribbean Family Mediation Service
Founder (1972) and management advisor, Rainbow Community Nursery, Hackney
Ms Dawn was awarded Prime Minister Theresa May’s Points of Light in 2017 for her 30 years of voluntary service and labelled a cultural activist.
The pinnacle of her glittering public life occurred in 2018 when our Ms Dawn was awarded a CBE in the Queen’s 2018 New Year’s Honours list for services to culture.
After being the Chairperson of Black Cultural Archives for 12 years, in June 2022, Ms Dawn stepped back from the Board frontline duties and day-to-day hustle of the leadership to become BCA’s first Lifetime Patron.
As she steps back from the Board, Ms Dawn certainly remains a light and a force of energy for all that is positive in the fight for racial equality and social justice in the UK.
She left the BCA Board with these parting words
“I am immensely proud to be associated with Black Cultural Archives, a major accomplishment for the Caribbean and African communities in the UK. I was determined to see the archive collection properly housed and in a quality building that people would love to visit. This achievement has been against a back drop of discrimination, uprisings and a lack of funding over the last 40 years. Today the archives are being utilised by research scholars, teachers, historians, film makers, poets and the general public of all ethnicities. Black people say they feel at home when they visit us. My daughter, son and husband now past and family have been amazing in their support. I would like to thank The Mayor’s Commission on Black and Minority heritage and culture, Lambeth Council and the Heritage Lottery Fund for their support and in believing we had a product that would be of benefit to this country”.
Dr Yvonne Thompson CBE|DL, BCA’s current Chair, says to Ms Dawn Hill CBE “As you hand the leadership baton to us, on behalf of all those who have worked with BCA, our Trustees, staff and stakeholders past and present, we pay tribute and send every good wish to you for your transition to quieter times and knowing your bright light, will continue to shine at BCA.
Dr Yvonne Thompson CBE|DL: Chair BCA
