'Only white kid in class': Pair at centre of infamous Enoch Powell reference recreate iconic photo
Two old school pals have recreated a photo that was at the centre of controversy in 1968.
When Enoch Powell made an infamous reference to a constituent’s claim his child was the only white pupil in her class at a Wolverhampton school the world’s press descended.
The face of Michael Edwards, eight years old and white, and his best friend Raymond Comrie at West Park School in Whitmore Reans was published everywhere.
Other photos of the pair, with fellow pupils, including several white faces, show that Powell’s claim was not true. But the MP’s words triggered an escalation in racial tension in the town, leading to letters of objection and demonstrations by some parents concerned there was an ethnic imbalance at the school. Now almost 50 years on Michael Edwards, aged 58, and Raymond met up again at a special reunion to celebrate the opening of West Park. And while they were there they recreated the infamous picture – which is now kept in Wolverhampton Archives.
And it has given Michael and Ray time to reflect on their experiences since their 1960s school days and on the impact of Enoch’s speech.
They first reunited six months ago and have been planning the school reunion together. It was a culmination of a project run by Michael, a teacher of trade union studies at Shrewsbury College, recalling his memories of the major racial issues of 1968, including the controversial black power salute at the Mexico Olympics and the assassination of Martin Luther King.
He set up a Facebook page for former pupils, called Class of 68, and the reunion was held at the Heritage Centre in Clifford Street, Whitmore Reans, Wolverhampton on Friday.
Michael said: “It was great, it was a fantastic night. It was a bit crazy but really good. The turnout was very good – it was pretty hectic.
“All the way through the night there were other people who just kept coming up to us and saying they had been to the school as well.
“It was a fantastic night. What came out of it was loads of memories, lots of people reminiscing about particular teachers, and about the school. There were just a lot of memories really, about what we used to play in the playground, and the games that have now been forgotten.
“We showed photographs on a big screen and every time one of the went up people would be standing up.
“Getting into the same pose took Ray and I right back, and when we shook hands afterwards that was when we felt the most comfortable.
“That was me and Ray united – but also black and white united.
“It was the fourth time me and Ray have met so not quite as emotional as the first time, but the night was emotional for everybody else.”
The 50th anniversary celebration was a joint project with Wolverhampton Archives and Wolverhampton University.
