Patrick Vernon received Lifetime Achievement award at the Gleaner Awards 2024

UK Weekly Gleaner Honour Awards 2024 took place at The Millennium Gloucester Hotel London Kensington.

“I received life time achievement alongside Lee Jasper and Levi Roots. I literally got back a few days ago from a big family reunion in Jamaica with family members from UK, USA, Canada and Jamaica where we came together in celebrating our ancestors and family history from my mother’s side of the family with a week of events and activities.

So I have dedicated this award to my ancestors from the Brown and Shirley family based in St James parish of Jamaica who from 1838 after ending of slavery had to establish new life without compensation or support.

The cause for reparation is about repairing the emotional, physical and economic impact of enslavement which still impacts today all families in Africa, Caribbean,The Americas and Europe. All our family history bares this pain and suffering which Britain is still in denial and ignorance. The struggle will continue for justice and truth.” – Patrick Vernon OBE