this is bbc news, the headlines: world powers have condemned the self—styled referendums being held in parts of ukraine on whether to join — police have arrested more than 700 people — and at least 35 people have been killed. the protests were triggered by the death in custody of a young woman who'd been detained for breaching rules on dress code. hurricane fiona strikes canada's atlantic coastline — torrential rain and

winds of up to 160kph caused exstensive flooding and mudslides. numerous flooding and mudslides. coastal homes were swept numerous coastal homes were swept into the sea or submerged under the water. now on bbc news — winess history. a warning that this programme contains language that some may find offensive. hello. i'm celestina olulode, and welcome to this very special edition of witness history from the m shed museum in bristol. this month we are getting first—hand accounts of some important moments in black british history. coming up, the uk's first caribbean carnival set up to showcase west indian culture. we travel back over 100 years to hear a witness to liverpool's 1919 race riots.

we meet britain's first black female head teacher. but we start here in the city of bristol where in 1963 and buses like this one here. he secured an interview but when he arrived the bus company turned him away because he was black. now despite this being racist, it was completely legal in the uk at the time. the treatment guy faced sparked a boycott of bristol's buses. in 1963 the bristol omnibus company refused to employ black people on its buses.

whites, let alone the blacks. we intend to go an engaging white labour rather than - coloured labour. they didn't know that i was black but on my arrival things changed and i become a black person, not a person. at the time every day there was adverts in the paper for bus drivers and conductors. injamaica, i'd neverseen a double—decker bus, and when i saw the double—decker buses over here i thought, i'd love to be able to drive one of those. what you want, mr green, is to restrict the numbers of coloured people who come and getjobs in the transport department as drivers and conductors. well, that's what i am - instructed to do by my branch. a local west indian association felt it had to take action. you could arrange an interview by telephone, which i did, with the help of our spokesperson. the surprising thing

was that the secretary was so shocked when i arrived and it was a black person. i could hear her saying, mr bailey is here but he's a black, he's a black man. and i could hear also that the person in the other room was saying, "tell him that the vacancy is filled1'— and this was only an hour after i'd confirmed that i was going to have an interview. the following day we went to the manager's office and the manager told us, under no circumstances he's going to employ black people. i was working out how best to bring this to the notice of the public and it's then i was thinking of luther king and his bus boycott, and i decided, yes, i will ask the people of the city to boycott bristol's buses. the bristol omnibus . company carries overi million people a day. is this really going - to make any difference? there was good support.

we had hundreds of university students that were lying across in front of the buses. once you change thisjob over and it becomes known as a i coloured man'sjob, well then they white man does not takei any further interest in it. the campaign gained national support they are not but surely they can't be very happy

i thought i was safer doing something else. a shopkeeper can't refuse to serve a man because of his colour. however, one of the uk's first caribbean carnivals took place in 1959. the actor and dancer corinne skinner—carter was there and tells us how its organiser claudia jones was determined to showcase caribbean culture and counter racial violence. claudia did it at exactly the time that we were having it

in trinidad, which meant it was cold here. costumes on everyone was staring at them. what's wrong with these black people coming out in costumes and things like that in this weather?! in highgate cemetery lies the grave of a woman who was probably the most influential afro—caribbean in britain's post—war history. her name was claudia jones. she was a communist and she was imprisoned in america for quite some time. she was such a warm person that you took to her immediately. something new and ugly raises its head in britain.

at that time we were having riots in notting we can't go home. she was always for black people, most bring people together. she had singers and dancers. she had groups and she had a steel band and people paraded in their costumes to show what carnival in the west indies

is really like. we relaxed, not putting the prejudice away, but in the background. we were there to enjoy ourselves. and where people were scared of going home because of what might meet them on the street, they forgot about all that for that space of time. in late 1959, just eight months after the riots, notting hill again made national news when a west indian carpenter named kelso cochrane was stabbed to death by three teddy boys. it was britain's first acknowledged race killing. the murder of kelso cochrane shocked claudia. she was really, really angry. it had gone beyond what they should have done. he was just a normal person and they treated him like dirt. so she tried her best

to do whatever she can. i want to declare the fourth annual caribbean carnival. officially open. she thought that if she brought people together they would understand us more, because, as far as she was concerned, they didn't understand us. it was a very good success. when claudia jones died in 1964 rhaune laslett, another community worker, picked up the mantle and started up a multicultural neighbourhood festival of her own. claudia would have loved the carnival as it is now, enjoyed pleasure as much as she enjoyed politics. and now to liverpool, home to one of europe's oldest black communities, as troops returned home from the first world war

increasing levels of unemployment turned the working class against minorities and led to rioting in seaports across the country. in liverpool, one young serviceman who had just returned from action found himself targeted. it'sjune 1919. world war i is over, there is huge social unrest, the working class are angry. ernest mark was a seafarer from sierra leone in west africa. while he was living in liverpool he joined the army to defend the motherland in her hour of need.

and we considered ourselves that the country is our country and the king is our king, so we march along with them. the next thing we know we are in the recruiting office. black and asian people played an absolutely crucial role during world war i as the british call for patriotic support was heard throughout the empire. many men and women answered that call, leaving their homelands to contribute as soldiers, sailors, labourers and nurses. during the war there were a lot ofjobs. colour — didn't mind, black, white, yellow, green, everybody can work. army with them and they couldn't get the jobs and they demanded that these black people would leave the factory so that they can get in, englishmen, because black so the race they

attacked they got really so the race they attan and they got really so the race they attan and some ey got really so the race they attan and some of got really so the race they attan and some of them rally so the race they attan and some of them took off mad and some of them took off their clogs, because men used wear in those to wear clogs in those days, leave him alone, he's done nothing to you! they got me. :_—;: all! could do é all! could do wasépunch and all i could do was punch anything, the air, anything, punching the air, punching esfl“ i and got from them. charles wootton was a bermudan seafarer 23 years old, his boarding house was raided by police. he fled and was chased by an angry white mob into the river and was pelted he drowned. homes he drowned. homes of he drowned. homes of he drov and.

�*families were looted and their families were looted and burned. 700 to and leggélzglice statiees gas! fire housed locating“ statiees gas! fire housed there for own safe . 'own safety. my friend a indian we re were going lucia. we were going to see a this gang friend in liverpool. this gang spotted us. before we know what's happened they were chasing us. so we ran like hell. a woman opened a door, they were all white women, there were no black women in those days, so my friend and i ran around the corner into the hallway and we found a door open and the woman shut the door and we went upstairs. she made us a cup of tea while she looked out of the window to see if everything was all right and it wasn't long after when she said, "ok, you can go now." she saved our lives.

said, �*0k, you can go now." she saved our lives.— saved our lives. ernest mark the 're saved our lives. ernest mark they're talking _ saved our lives. ernest mark they're talking to _ saved our lives. ernest mark they're talking to the - saved our lives. ernest mark they're talking to the bbc. saved our lives. ernest mark i they're talking to the bbc back in 1989. remember, you can watch witness history each month on the bbc news channel, or you can catch up on all of ourfilms, along with more than 1000 radio programmes in our online archive. head to bbc.co.uk/ witness history. next, when yvonne conolly became britain's first black female head teacher in 1969, she received so many racist threats she needed a minderfor herfirst threats she needed a minderfor her first day threats she needed a minderfor herfirst day in threats she needed a minderfor her first day in the job. yvonne told us how she refused to let prejudice define her relationship with the children she taught. relationship with the children she taught-— relationship with the children she taught. there is no colour roblem she taught. there is no colour problem at — she taught. there is no colour problem at ring _ she taught. there is no colour problem at ring cross - she taught. there is no colour problem at ring cross infant l problem at ring cross infant school. this is a yvonne conko school. this is a yvonne conolly who has to be thanked for that but there is an awful lot of love, most of it for her. she is london's first west indian head teacher, and what a hit she is with the kids, all

200 of them.— hit she is with the kids, all 200 of them. ., �* ., 200 of them. yvonne, i'm yvonne conoll . 200 of them. yvonne, i'm yvonne conolly- i — 200 of them. yvonne, i'm yvonne conolly- i was _ 200 of them. yvonne, i'm yvonne conolly. i was one _ 200 of them. yvonne, i'm yvonne conolly. i was one of _ 200 of them. yvonne, i'm yvonne conolly. i was one of the - 200 of them. yvonne, i'm yvonne conolly. i was one of the first - conolly. i was one of the first black— conolly. i was one of the first black head teachers in ie- in - had done london in 1969. i had done three — london in 1969. i had done three years of teacher training injamaica, sol three years of teacher training injamaica, so i thought i'll come — injamaica, so i thought i'll come britain. icame injamaica, so i thought i'll come britain. i came in come to britain. i came in august— come to britain. i came in august 1963 on a grey, grey day. _ august1963 on a grey, grey day. i— august 1963 on a grey, grey day. i wondered what i had done _ day. i wondered what i had done i_ day. i wondered what i had done. i had planned to be here for three — done. i had planned to be here for three years. but three years— for three years. but three years led to four years. i was _ years led to four years. i was very £493: there lease tensions in jigag very aware that there tensions in quite a —: —’ n number of schools. i would turn up number of schools. i would turn up and — number of schools. i would turn up and somebody would just stand. — up and somebody would just stand. i_ up and somebody would just stand, i suppose without meaning it, and say, "but you

are black1'— meaning it, and say, "but you are black." my response was, yes i— are black." my response was, yes i am. _ are black." my response was, yes i am, but i am also a teacher _ yes i am, but i am also a teacher. so they were small silly— teacher. so they were small silly things. nothing dangerous but enough to cause discomfort. after_ but enough to cause discomfort. after six— but enough to cause discomfort. after six years, i applied for ijust wanted to see what interviews at this level— to see what interviews at this level might be, and i was absolutely amazed when my name was called. mrs connelly. the newspapers picked this up the next _ newspapers picked this up the next day— newspapers picked this up the next day and the school was inundated by quite a number of journalists who came to take photographs. journalists who came to take photographs-— photographs. since she took over the headship _ photographs. since she took over the headship of - photographs. since she took over the headship of the - photographs. since she took i over the headship of the school a few weeks ago, she has brought a new vitality to it. her children from many parts of the world mixed happily, the world mixed heppity. of prejudice. ~ unaware of pre'udice. when i was appointed— unaware of prejudice. when i was appointed to _ unaware of prejudice. when i was appointed to somebody. was appointed to somebody threatened to burn down the school. i threatened to burn down the school. ., threatened to burn down the school. . , , school. i had newspaper articles _ school. i had newspaper articles were _ school. i had newspaper articles were actually i

school. i had newspaper. articles were actually sent school. i had newspaper- articles were actually sent to me with crossing out my photograph with actually nasty comments. photograph with actually nasty comments-— photograph with actually nasty comments. “ ., “ comments. "go back to jamaica." i also had — comments. "go back to jamaica." i also had letters _ comments. "go back to jamaica." i also had letters from, _ i also had letters from, interestingly enough, members of the _ interestingly enough, members of the black community who felt that i— of the black community who felt that i had — of the black community who felt that i had sold out to the white _ that i had sold out to the white establishment. these letters _ white establishment. these letters reminded me in no mean terms _ letters reminded me in no mean terms that— letters reminded me in no mean terms that i was here only for the black_ terms that i was here only for the black children. the racism was _ the black children. the racism was coming, both from the white side and — was coming, both from the white side and from the black side. i had a — side and from the black side. i had a responsibility for all the children in my school, regardless of race or religion. in fact, — regardless of race or religion. in fact, the differences were iess— in fact, the differences were less than— in fact, the differences were less than the commonality is that— less than the commonality is that we — less than the commonality is that we shared. and therefore, one had — that we shared. and therefore, one had to _ that we shared. and therefore, one had to on it. one had to get on with it. happily, _ one had to get on with it. happily, the parents were only

interested in whether their chiidren— interested in whether their children would get a good education. and that certainly was — education. and that certainly was my— education. and that certainly was my focus. i felt that i had a was my focus. ! felt that i had a job— was my focus. i felt that i had a job to — was my focus. i felt that i had a job to do _ was my focus. i felt that i had a job to do in britain, and i am— a job to do in britain, and i am happy— a job to do in britain, and i am happy having been here now for 56— am happy having been here now for 56 years. the am happy having been here now for 56 years-— for 56 years. the remarkable yvonne conolly _ for 56 years. the remarkable yvonne conolly there - for 56 years. the remarkable yvonne conolly there who . for 56 years. the remarkable i yvonne conolly there who died in 2021 at the age of 81. finally, we bring you the story of the reno night club opened in manchester by a nigerian man. the new to the city, phil wanted to create a space that was welcoming to all. mr; wanted to create a space that was welcoming to all. my name is lisa and _ was welcoming to all. my name is lisa and my _ was welcoming to all. my name is lisa and my dad _ was welcoming to all. my name is lisa and my dad owned - was welcoming to all. my name is lisa and my dad owned the l is lisa and my dad owned the reno nightclub in manchester. he lived in nigeria his whole life, he knew where he was, there was not the scope to do anything, but had the vision from really young that he wanted to do more and he thought the opportunities to go on a ship and try and make his

way here. he was looking at the premises of the reno and opposite was a pub with big glittering lights and they went into the pub and asked for a guinness and the barman said into the pub and asked for a guir don't |nd the barman said into the pub and asked for a guir don't |nd th monkeys said into the pub and asked for a guir don't| he :h monkeys said into the pub and asked for a guir don't| he :h monkeys a aid here." and he pointed to a barrel at the side here." and he pointed to e the barrel at the side here." and he pointed to e the bar barrel at the side here." and he pointed to e the bar that narrel at the side here." and he pointed to e the bar that people: the side here." and he pointed to e the bar that people were .ide here." and he pointed to e the ba dead people were .ide here." and he pointed to e the ba dead ends le were .ide here." and he pointed to e the ba dead ends of were .ide throwing dead ends of the in and he "monkeys drink "it and eys drink "it and he drink "it and he said ( "it and he said one day i there." and he said one day i have a bar and there." and he said one day i have a barand i there." and he said one day i have a bar and i will will have a bar and i will remind you of this. many years later they managed to get a liquor license, opened the reno and the owner of the pub on the corner came over and was like, can i get a title like a red stripe. my dad said, you don't remember me? he said i don't remember me? he said i don't remember you. remember me? he said i don't rememberyou. i remember me? he said i don't remember you. i said remember me? he said i don't rememberyou. isaid i remember me? he said i don't remember you. i said i came in your place and asked for a drink and this is what you told me. and he said the man was really embarrassed and said i'm so sorry, it is wrong, can you

forgive me? my dad said yes, everybody is entitled to make a mistake. i think the reno was a great destination for everyone because it was a safe place. it was inclusive for all. i suppose mainly it was black, but there was a really nice mix of a lot of white women, and then obviously a lot of mixed culture coming from the marriages of black men with white women, and other places you would go. i think they would be ridiculed, made to feel uncomfortable, whereas anybody who went down they would have a good time and would have a good time and would feel welcomed. my dad had previously gone to montreal to see muhammad ali fight and a year, maybe 18 months later muhammad ali came to manchester, england, and came to the club and brought him a gift, which was a gold boxing glove that muhammad ali had

received for are one of his fights. in them days the police was very harassing. they was very harassing to people and very harassing to people and very aggressive with black people. they are not like they was today. people. they are not like they was today-— people. they are not like they was today. the rioting in moss side was brief, _ was today. the rioting in moss side was brief, but _ was today. the rioting in moss side was brief, but such - was today. the rioting in moss side was brief, but such was i side was brief, but such was the legacy of tension and bitterness left afterjust two nights — bitterness left afterjust two nights of disorder the greater manchester council decided a speedy— manchester council decided a speedy inquiry was essential if peace — speedy inquiry was essential if peace was to be restored to the community. it peace was to be restored to the community-— community. it wasn't long after that that they _ community. it wasn't long after that that they forced _ community. it wasn't long after that that they forced my - community. it wasn't long after that that they forced my dad i community. it wasn't long after that that they forced my dad to | that that they forced my dad to close the reno. they made an excuse of extending princes road. music is a stress reliever everybody, so to take away venues where music is being played and black people being played and bladepeeple able to relax and let go of was able to relax and let go of all of their worries what the race was was causing is going to then cause a lot more

attention. so this is a spot where the reno used to be, it is hard to believe because it is hard to believe because it is just waste land now. i think my dad was quite upset to see it demolished. it was his legacy. he did build a really good vision that was everything he wanted it to be, and i'm really proud of him. lisa talking about the renowned soul and funk club founded by her father soul and funk club founded by herfather in a soul and funk club founded by her father in a manchester basement. and that's all from this special edition of witness history from the m shed in bristol. we will be back soon with more first—hand accounts of extraordinary moments in history, but for now, from me and the rest of the witness history team, goodbye.

hello there. we've got some windy weather on the way, in particular at the start and at the end of next week. we started the weekend, though, with a northerly breeze that brought sunshine and showers. most of the shares to england and wales, but there'll be fewer showers on sunday. instead, we look to the north with this weather front moving down with some stronger winds as well. but ahead of that for england and wales, after a sunny morning, we'll see more cloud in the afternoon, but it should be dry. one or two showers possible for scotland and northern ireland, ahead of that rain that arrives in northern scotland in the afternoon. the winds are picking up. particularly windy in scotland. in the north—west, we're likely to have some gales later and temperature—wise, very similar to those numbers of saturday, so 15 to 17 celsius. the rain in northern scotland is on that weather front, but it's not going to last long. very quickly, we see the weather front sweeping rain southwards across the whole of the country, pushed on by a strengthening northerly wind. and that is going to bring down colder air all the way from iceland, so a chill

to the day, i think, on monday. the overnight rain soon clears the south coast and the channel and then it's sunshine and showers. gales are likely across northern scotland. there may even be some snow over the very tops of the mountains with temperatures in northern scotland staying in single figures. best numbers, 15 or 16 in the far south, but it will feel colder for all of us in that wind. and it stays windy as we head into tuesday. heading over towards norway. particularly down the eastern side of the uk. temperatures only a few degrees above freezing in places. still quite windy, but a change in the wind direction pushes a lot of those showers away from the north sea coast, but they will continue in northern scotland, some sunshine in between, but a chilly day, temperatures typically 13 or 1a celsius on tuesday.

this weather front that's coming in from the atlantic is what we call a slider. it's just sliding down towards the south—west, places will be dry. some sunshine. if you like, and those temperatures still below par for this time of the year — 12 to 1a celsius. so still chilly, but we don't have the strong wind. heading into thursday, we're going to find an area of low pressure just sort of sitting there out towards the north sea, keeping more of a northerly breeze going, but again, not particularly a strong wind. we could see some showers, more especially across eastern scotland, eastern england, east anglia in particular. out to the west, it may well be dry. those temperatures just beginning to pick up a little bit, 1a or 15 celsius. but later on in the week, the jet stream, the upper—level winds are quite light. however, as we head

towards the end of the week, there's a much strongerjet stream that's propagating all the way across the atlantic and that is going to change our stronger jet steers areas of low pressure. stream for the second half of the weekend, so turning more unsettled.

this is bbc news. i'm gareth barlow. our top stories — knocking. eyewitnesses say armed soldiers are going door—to—door in occupied parts of ukraine to collect votes for so—called "referendums" onjoining russia. at the united nations general assembly, russia's foreign minister has accused the west of stirring up tensions around the world. translation: the west is introducing _ translation: the west is introducing dividing - translation: the west is introducing dividing lines . introducing dividing lines everywhere on the lines of confrontation between blocks can are either with us or against us, there is no third option. storm fiona strikes canada's atlantic coastline.

torrential rain and winds of up to 160 kph cause extensive flooding and mudslides. in iran, increasingly violent anti—government protests have continued for an eighth day.