Portrait of Bristol civil rights activist Guy Reid Bailey OBE unveiled at Lord's
9 December 2024
A portrait of Bristol civil rights activist Dr Guy Reid Bailey OBE has been unveiled in the MCC Museum at Lord’s.
The painting of Bailey, who was instrumental in the Bristol Bus Boycott in the 1960s and made a significant impact on racial equality and social justice in Britain, was painted by artist Helen Wilson Roe and was unveiled during a ceremony at Lord's last month.
The ceremony was attended by Bailey himself and former England bowler Devon Malcolm, as well as several other invited guests including Gloucestershire Head Coach, Mark Alleyne.
Bailey and the Bristol Bus Boycott attracted national and international attention, and Bailey's work influenced the Government to introduce the 1965 Race Relations Act, which then evolved into the 2010 UK Equalities Act as it is known today.
His tireless work across decades includes co-founding the United Housing Association to support Caribbean Elders, the first black housing association in the southwest, and becoming the first black Education Welfare Officer in Bristol.
Bailey also co-founded the Bristol West Indian Cricket Club, to combat discrimination in sport, which continues to bring joy to generations of black Bristolians today. Bailey understood the power of cricket to engage and generate community cohesion. He spent many hours on the street talking to young people and encouraging them to participate in cricket, which gave them the ability to play and the feeling of being a part of a wider society.
Former England bowler Malcolm has been influential in ensuring the painting is exhibited at Lord’s, along with Joan Fieldthorn, a member of Bristol West Indian CC (now Bristol West Indian Phoenix CC after a 2013 merger) and friend of Bailey.
Bailey said of the unveiling: “I’m very happy to see my painting here at Lord’s and want to thank everyone involved, most notably the artist Helen, my friend and fellow Club member Joan and of course Devon.
"This is a huge surprise and to have my portrait at Lord’s, the same place where my idols, Sir Garfield Sobers and Viv Richards, also have portraits is wonderful."
It was through a cricketing link that Bailey met artist Helen Wilson Roe, a Bristol-based artist now living in Stroud, who said: “The establishment of the cricket club stands as a testament to Guy Bailey’s never-ending resolve to ensure that cricket remained a fixture in the lives of all British people, irrespective of their race or religion.
“I have made it my mission to paint portraits of individuals who have consistently contributed to their local or global communities and have brought about meaningful change yet have been overlooked.”
Malcolm added: “Guy Bailey’s contribution to both cricket and civil rights issues is truly inspiring. The Bristol West Indian Cricket Club, Bailey formed in 1963 is still going strong today, and continues to provide a platform for African Caribbean cricket lovers to come together and enjoy the sport. Cricket is huge in Bailey’s life and has given him the tenacity and strength to fight for all he believes in."
Guy Reid Bailey OBE pictured at Lord's (Image credit: Helen Wilson-Roe)
