Sam King MBE

Sam King (20 February 1926 – 17 June 2016) was born in Jamaica. In 1944 he joined the RAF and was stationed in Britain. When demobbed, on return to Jamaica, he found a country whose economy was in steep decline. Unemployed, he made the decision to return to Britain. Arriving at Tilbury on board the Empire Windrush, determined and adamantly independent, refusing work, he returned to the Air Force. In 1953 he retired from the Services and began a 34 year career in the Post Office. Parallel to this he pursued work as a councillor for Southwark and was elected Mayor of the borough in 1983.