Our friends Smeaton300 and Leeds 2023 present an in-conversation event with Susan Pitter and panellists Derrick Armstrong, Hughbon Condor and Des Walters
Filmed at Central Library in October 2023, the panellists and host Susan Pitter explored the experiences of African Caribbean men and women who worked in engineering in Leeds from the 1940s onwards. The panel shared their own personal experiences - why they chose engineering and their time with companies like Doncasters Monkbridge and ‘Copperworks’.
From daily apprenticeship life to life-long jobs, navigating a new culture and climate, pride in their work and surviving prejudice, to feeding families and forging friendships. The panel, special guest audience contributors and event Q&A offered a valuable insight into their real-life highs and lows of working in engineering in Leeds. 
City archives tell the story of Leeds, its people and history. Together they should tell us how and why we have the Leeds of today. A significant and important part of the city’s post war history is engineering - the workers, the foundries, iron and steel works, the manufacturers and more. When men and women from the Caribbean answered the call to fill the employment gaps that Britain couldn’t fill after WW2, engineering was one of the sectors that needed them to help rebuild and recover. And yet the contributions of African Caribbean men and women who worked in engineering in Leeds are scarcely acknowledged in our city’s public archives. Their photos, in particular, are a rarity. This event opened a door to begin to make this part of Leeds engineering history better known and seen.
Part of Smeaton300, #Smeaton300 , creative events programme by Foxglove celebrating John Smeaton, the Leeds-born trailblazer of civil engineering - Engineering Leeds was supported by @TheNationalLotteryHeritageFund @artscouncilofengland @BruntwoodVideos @Burberry and #ScottishPowerFoundation ; in partnership with @LEEDS_2023 @LeedsLibraries
www.wearefoxglove.co.uk #EngineeringLeeds