School steel band help kick off Black History Month
Music from a steel band helped staff at a Black Country hospital kick off their celebrations for Black History Month.
Pupils from Summerhill School, in Kingswinford, performed as Summerhill School Steel Pan Band setting the mood for celebrations in Russells Hall Hospital's main reception.
While staff from the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust enjoyed a taste of Jamaican spiced bun, traditionally served with cheese.
The Dudley trust has put on a month-long display highlighting the key role the black and minority ethnic (BME) community has played in the history of the NHS, alongside the stories of some of the trust's own staff and volunteers.
These include Carol Love-Mecrow, who said: "I am proud to have had a very successful and enjoyable career here in Dudley.
"I feel very privileged to be the first black deputy chief nurse here and I have made the most of every opportunity that has come my way.”
Interserve, which provides catering services at Russells Hall, is serving up Caribbean dishes during October, including jerk chicken and escovitch fish, plus puddings such as toto cake and coconut cake.
Black History Month has been officially celebrated in the UK since 1987.
By Dayna Farrington
