An appeal has been launched for a memorial in Leeds to David Oluwale, who was found dead in the River Aire in 1969. Two police officers were later prosecuted and convicted of assaulting him.
David Oluwale was a Nigerian migrant who arrived in the UK in 1949 and subsequently spent many years living on the streets of Leeds and detained in Menston asylum (now called High Royds hospital). While in Leeds David was persecuted by two police officers, Sergeant Ken Kitching and Inspector Geoff Ellerker, who assaulted and abused him as often as they could. (This persecution is documented in a recent book on David’s life and death, The hounding of David Oluwale by Kester Aspden).
A committee has recently been established to raise money for the memorial and will be organising public events to generate support for the campaign. It includes Max Farrar (Leeds Metropolitan University), Canon Kathryn Fitzsimons (Diocese of Ripon and Leeds), Arthur France MBE (Leeds West Indian Centre), Mahalia France (Transformations Bicentennial Committee), Bill Kilgallon OBE (St Gemma’s Hospice), Martin Patterson (St George’s Crypt), Rommi Smith (Poet and playwright) and Martin Wainwright (The Guardian). To add your support for the memorial please write to the Committee. (See links below for full details)
Related links
David Oluwale – memorial appeal
Download details of the David Oluwale – memorial appeal (pdf file, 68kb)
Read a review of the The hounding of David Oluwale by Kester Aspden
Pre-order from Amazon The hounding of David Oluwale