Frank Bailey: Man thought to be London’s first black firefighter remembered with a Google Doodle

Frank Arthur Bailey has been remembered with a Google Doodle on what would have been his 95th birthday.
Credit: Google/LFB

A man thought to be London's first black firefighter has been remembered with a Google Doodle on what would have been his 95th birthday.

Frank Bailey came to London from Guyana in 1953 and joined West Ham Fire Brigade a few years later after hearing black people 'were not employed by the fire service'.

London Fire Brigade said it believed Frank was the first full time black firefighter in London, and possibly the first in the country.

Frank Arthur Bailey seen during his time as a London firefighter Credit: London Fire Brigade

In 2007 Frank described the challenges and obstacles he faced getting a job as a firefighter.

"I was told that the authorities were not hiring black men because they were not strong enough physically or well enough educated to do the job," he said.

Frank passed away on the 2nd December 2015, six days after his 90th birthday.