Carlisle man was UK's first black policeman
John Kent, who was born in Cumbria, became the UK's first black policeman, serving in the Carlisle police Force between 1837-1844.
He was the son of a former slave, Thomas Kent, who was brought from the West Indies in the early 1800s.
His descendant, Ian Bulman, who is approximately John Kent's great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandson, still lives and works in Armathwaite on their family farm.
Ian Bulman says he is very proud of his ancestors:
John Kent was born in 1805 in Low Heskett, then settled at Botchergate, and on what is now known as Warwick road in Carlisle, after getting married to Mary Bell from Longtown.
In 1844, John was dismissed for being drunk on duty, which was a common occurrence amongst police officers at the time.
He then worked for West-coast railway until just a few days before his death in 1886, at the age of 91.
The phrase "Black Kent is coming!" was used to scare away misbehaving children, but John Kent was described in a local newspaper obituary as "'a quiet, inoffensive man with a positive fondness for children."
He was also described as having "civility and unvarying good humour" making him "a favourite with everyone" in The Carlisle Patriot.
The painting depicting John Kent hangs in Carleton Hall, and is a montage of the Cumbrian police force over the years.