Floella Benjamin

Floella Benjamin was born on 23 September 1949 in Pointe-à-Pierre, Trinidad and Tobago, one of six siblings, with one older sister, three younger brothers and a younger sister.

When her father decided to emigrate to Britain, with her mother later joining him along with Benjamin’s younger sister and youngest brother, the four older children were left in the care of family friends, with Benjamin and her older sister, Sandra, being separated from their brothers. The people looking after Benjamin and her sister were secretly abusive. Benjamin and her sister often tried writing to their parents to tell them about the abuse, but the letters were always read and censored before they were sent. In 1960 the children went to join their father in Beckenham, Kent. Floella Benjamin has discussed the racist experiences she had when arriving in Britain as an immigrant, such as with neighbours and at school.{{cite web |url=http://www.samiraahmed.co.uk/swinging-racism-floella-benjamins-memoir-of-60s-london/ |title=Swinging racism: Floella Benjamin's memoir of 60s London |last=Ahmed |first=Samira |date=13 January 2011 |publisher=samiraahmed.co.uk }}

Having left school to work in a bank, she studied for A-Levels at night school.{{cite web |url=http://h2g2.com/edited_entry/A36869557 |title=Floella Benjamin – Activist, Actress and Producer |website=h2g2 |date=4 July 2008 |access-date=25 March 2014}} After a spell as a stage actress in West End musicals, she began presenting children's television programmes in 1976, notably Play School, for the BBC.

Benjamin has appeared in Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Black Mikado and The Husband-In-Law, as well as several pantomimes. On screen, she appeared in the 1975 horror film I Don't Want to Be Born and starred in the 1977 film Black Joy. Her television credits include Angels, Within These Walls, Crown Court, The Gentle Touch and Dixon of Dock Green. She appeared as Juniper in the first episode of Bergerac (1981).{{Citation |title="Bergerac" Picking It Up (TV Episode 1981) |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0521657/?ref_=ttep_ep1 |access-date=2017-06-09}}

Benjamin read two stories for the Story Teller magazine series (1983 and 1984). She was chief executive of Floella Benjamin Productions Ltd, which had produced television programmes since 1987 and was dissolved in 2014. She had done the voice work of "U" and "PG" Video Standards Council information clips. In 2006, she appeared in an episode of The Line of Beauty.{{Cite web |title=Credits – Floella Benjamin |url=http://www.floellabenjamin.com/about-me/credits/ |access-date=2022-03-04 |language=en-GB}}

Between 2007 and 2011, she guest-starred in the Doctor Who spin-off The Sarah Jane Adventures as Professor Rivers of the Pharos Institute in the stories The Lost Boy, The Day of the Clown, The Eternity Trap, and Sky. She also narrated three "making-of" documentaries on the Doctor Who DVD boxed set The Black Guardian Trilogy.[http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/1097073 Floella Benjamin biography and credits], BFIScreenonline.org; accessed 21 March 2014. In 2007, she played a small role in the British comedy Run Fatboy Run.

She sings with Damn Right I Got The Blues, a rock and blues band, and has said, "When I sing I am in my element."{{cite web |title=Floella Benjamin – About Me 2 |url=http://www.floellabenjamin.com/www.floellabenjamin.com/About_me_2.html |publisher=floellabenjamin.com |access-date=27 February 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120505224407/http://www.floellabenjamin.com/www.floellabenjamin.com/About_me_2.html |archive-date=5 May 2012}}

She featured in the 2023–24 New Year's Eve fireworks display in London, reciting the poem "In This World" by the late Benjamin Zephaniah as part of the segment celebrating the 75th anniversary of the arrival of the Empire Windrush.

Benjamin's 20th book, a memoir, Coming to England, about moving from Trinidad, was published in 1997, and is now used to teach modern history to young people.[http://www.unionblacks.co.uk/portraits/f-benjamin.php#section1 "Union Blacks – a portrait of Black Brits"], unionblacks.co.uk; accessed 21 March 2014. It was made into a television film by CBBC in 2005.

Other books written by Benjamin and published by various houses include titles such as Floella's Fun Book, Why the Agouti Has No Tail, Caribbean Cookery and Snotty and the Rod of Power. Many of her titles are aimed at children and development.[http://www.floellabenjamin.com/about%20me/literaryinformation.html "Literary Information"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100107221931/http://www.floellabenjamin.com/about%20me/literaryinformation.html |date=7 January 2010 }}, Floellabenjamin.com.

File:Statue of Floella.jpg's students' guild. Artist: Luke Shepherd]]

Benjamin was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2001 New Year Honours for services to broadcasting.{{London Gazette |issue=56070 |date=30 December 2000 |page=10 |supp=y }} At that time she was chairperson of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). She has also won a Special Lifetime Achievement award from BAFTA. She was chairperson of the Women of the Year Lunch{{Cite web |url=http://www.womenoftheyear.co.uk/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130617062649/http://www.womenoftheyear.co.uk/the-board-council/nominating-council/ |url-status=dead |title=Women of the Year Lunch and Awards – Celebrating women since 1955 |archive-date=17 June 2013 |website=Women of the Year}} for five years and a Millennium Commissioner. She is president of the Elizabeth R Commonwealth Broadcasting Fund and a governor of the National Film and Television School. She was a governor of Dulwich College, where her mother once worked and her son had attended.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2011/oct/01/floella-benjamin-my-famimly-values |title=Interview {{!}} Floella Benjamin: My family values |first=Juliet |last=Rix |newspaper=The Guardian |date=1 October 2011}}

File:Floella benjamin.jpgIn 2006, she was awarded the degree of honorary D.Litt. (Exon) by the University of Exeter for contributions to the life of the United Kingdom. Benjamin succeeded Lord Alexander of Weedon as Chancellor of the University of Exeter.[http://www.exeter.ac.uk/about/organisation/chancellor Office of the Chancellor, University of Exeter]; accessed 21 March 2014. She famously hugged graduates instead of traditionally shaking their hands during the graduation ceremonies.[http://xmedia.ex.ac.uk/wp/wordpress/going-with-the-flo-ella/ "Going with the Flo-ella"], Exeposé, 16 October 2013. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150725024105/http://xmedia.ex.ac.uk/wp/wordpress/going-with-the-flo-ella/ |date=25 July 2015 }}. Benjamin stepped down from office in winter 2016 after ten years in the post.{{cite web |title=University of Exeter Chancellor Baroness Floella Benjamin steps down after ten fantastic years |url=https://www.exeter.ac.uk/alumnisupporters/news/featurednews/title_437906_en.html |website=University of Exeter |access-date=1 March 2018}}

A statue of Benjamin is outside the University's student guild.(shown on the right) The plaque reads Consideration ~ put yourself in the place of others and show empathy and respect. Never be judgmental.; Contentment ~ Don't be jealous and envious, but be satisfied with what you have. That way you are open and ready to receive what is right for you.; Confidence ~ Be a decent human being, feel worthy and like the person you are. Give and love unconditionally and more will come back to you. This was the first public statue of a named living black woman in the UK.{{cite web |last1=Shepherd |first1=Luke |title='Baroness Floella Benjamin (Portrait Bronze statue)' |url=http://www.artparks.co.uk/artpark_sculpture.php?sculpture=10465&sculptor=luke_shepherd |website=ArtParksInternational |access-date=13 April 2021}}{{cite web |last1=Shepherd |first1=Luke |title=Bronze of Floella Benjamin |url=https://www.creativetorbay.com/luke-shepherd-portrait-sculptor/floella-benjamin/ |website=CreativeTorbay |access-date=13 April 2021}}

On 10 December 2008, she was appointed a Deputy lieutenant of Greater London.{{cite web |title=Deputy Lieutenant Commissions LIEUTENANCY OF GREATER LONDON |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/notice/L-58918-692315 |website=The London Gazette |access-date=28 April 2023 |language=en}} In the 2010 Dissolution Honours List, she was appointed a Liberal Democrat life peer, being created Baroness Benjamin, of Beckenham in the County of Kent on 26 June 2010.{{London Gazette |issue=59476 |date=1 July 2010 |page=12451}}{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8711821.stm |title=Dissolution Honours: John Prescott made a peer |work=BBC News |date=28 May 2010 |access-date=29 May 2010}} She was the first actress to become a peer in the House of Lords. In her maiden speech, she spoke of choosing Beckenham to reflect the legacy of her mother and father, and the importance of childhood. She referenced her support of such charities as NSPCC, Childline, and Barnados, and their work to protect and support the health and wellbeing of vulnerable children.{{Cite web |last=Benjamin |first=Floella |date=5 October 2010 |title=Baroness Floella Benjamin's maiden speech |url=https://www.libdemvoice.org/baroness-floella-benjamins-maiden-speech-21482.html |access-date=4 March 2022 |website=Liberal Democrat Voice}}

In the 2020 Powerlist, Benjamin was listed in the Top 100 of the most influential people in the UK of African/African-Caribbean descent in the UK.{{cite web |last1=Mills |first1=Kelly-Ann |title=Raheem Sterling joins Meghan and Stormzy in top 100 most influential black Brits |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/black-powerlist-2020-raheem-sterling-20721033 |website=Daily Mirror |access-date=20 April 2020 |date=25 October 2019}} The same year saw Benjamin appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2020 New Year Honours for services to charity.{{London Gazette|issue=62866|supp=y|page=N8|date=28 December 2019}} On 12 March 2020, in an Investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace, she received the insignia from Prince Charles.{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/ClarenceHouse/status/1238134041964154881 |title=Today, The Prince of Wales held an Investiture Ceremony at Buckingham Palace on behalf of The Queen. |publisher=Twitter |location=London |author=Clarence House |author-link=Clarence House |year=2020 |website=twitter.com |access-date=13 March 2020}} In 2022 she was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.) by the University of Chester.{{cite web |title=Honorary Graduates 2022 |url=https://www1.chester.ac.uk/development-and-alumni-relations-office/your-alumni-community/meet-our-alumni/honorary-graduates-14 |website=University of Chester |date=20 June 2022 |access-date=4 July 2022 |language=en}} She was made a member of the Order of Merit in 2022.{{Cite web |last=His Majesty The King |date=2022-11-11 |title=New Appointments to the Order of Merit |url=https://www.royal.uk/new-appointments-order-of-merit |access-date=2022-11-11 |website=royal.uk}}

She was chosen to carry the Sceptre with Dove at the Coronation of Charles III and Camilla.{{cite news |title=Coronation order of service in full |work=BBC News |date=5 May 2023 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-65503950 |access-date=6 May 2023}} Benjamin was presented with the BAFTA Fellowship award at the 70th British Academy Television Awards. Of the honour, BAFTA stated: "We are honoured to present Baroness Benjamin the BAFTA Fellowship for her tireless support of children and young people, her impact on television broadcasting, and for her unwavering championing of diversity. She is an unstoppable force for good with a determination to create opportunities and positive role models for future generations that has seen her effect a tremendous amount of positive change over fifty years and counting. She is deservedly a national treasure and we can’t wait to celebrate the impact of her work to date on 12th May at the BAFTA Television Awards."{{cite news |title=Floella Benjamin to receive BAFTA Fellowship at BAFTA TV Awards 2024 |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/entertainment/baroness-floella-benjamin-bafta-fellowship-tv-awards-newsupdate/ |access-date=24 April 2024 |publisher=Radio Times}}

File:FloellaBenjamin.jpg

Benjamin's interest in education has also seen her on the "4Rs Commission"{{cite web |author=Christian Moon |url=http://liberalengland.blogspot.com/2008/04/did-lib-dem-4rs-commision-ever-issue.html |title=Liberal Democrats: The 4Rs Commission |publisher=Liberalengland.blogspot.com |date=16 April 2008 |access-date=29 May 2010}} established by the Liberal Democrats to look into primary education in the UK.

Benjamin is vice-president of NCH Action for Children and Barnardo's, and was in the NSPCC's Hall of Fame. She runs the London Marathon to raise funds for Barnardo's and the Sickle Cell Society. She was a cultural ambassador for the 2012 Summer Olympics. In September 2011, she participated in the Great North Run.{{cite web |url=http://mcelderrydaily.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=4286&fullsize=1 |title=McElderry Daily Gallery: Click image to close this window |access-date=2011-09-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402212813/http://mcelderrydaily.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=4286&fullsize=1 |archive-date=2 April 2012 }}[http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/tyne/hi/front_page/newsid_9002000/9002434.stm "In pictures: Great North Run 2010 celebrities"], BBC.co.uk; accessed 21 March 2014. She features in the BBCs CBeebies animation Mama Mirabelle's Home Movies.{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2007/03_march/19/cbeebies_mirabelle.shtml |title=Press Office: CBeebies press pack: Mama Mirabelle's Home Movies and the Sarah Jane Adventures. |publisher=BBC |date=19 March 2007 |access-date=29 May 2010}}

In July 2007 she spoke of what she saw as the low standard of children's television{{cite news |author=Staff |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/07/26/ntv226.xml |title=Floella raises banner to save children's TV |newspaper=Telegraph |date=26 July 2007 |access-date=29 May 2010}}{{dead link|date=July 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} and in March 2013, she used a speech marking International Women's Day to warn of the impact on children of the availability of violent pornographic material online, saying that this was leading to the increasing objectification of women.{{citation needed|date=April 2020}}

Benjamin is a patron of the charity Beating Bowel Cancer, having lost her mother to the disease in 2009.[http://www.beatingbowelcancer.org/news/jan2013/floella-benjamin-becomes-patron "Floella Benjamin becomes Patron of Beating Bowel Cancer"], Beating Bowel Cancer, 16 January 2013. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130512204348/http://www.beatingbowelcancer.org/news/jan2013/floella-benjamin-becomes-patron |date=12 May 2013 }}, beatingbowelcancer.org.

In October 2015 in a talk to migrant children, Benjamin said that dropping her accent was the key to her success and that migrant pupils should do the same to avoid racism and bullying.{{cite news |url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/ditch-your-accent-in-school-presenter-tells-migrant-pupils-smswcqghxkq |title=Ditch your accent in school, presenter tells migrant pupils |date=31 October 2015 |first=Nicola |last=Woolcock |newspaper=The Times |access-date=8 April 2017}}

In June 2022, as chair of the Windrush Commemoration Committee, she unveiled a statue in Waterloo Station by the sculptor Basil Watson as the National Windrush Monument in the presence of the Duke of Cambridge.{{cite news |last1=Khomami |first1=Nadia |title=Windrush generation 'moved to tears' as monument unveiled in London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/jun/22/windrush-basil-watson-monument-unveiled-waterloo-station-london |access-date=23 June 2022 |work=The Guardian |date=23 June 2022}}

{{Reflist}}

{{commons category}}

• {{official website|http://www.floellabenjamin.com}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20180326002507/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2ba34329f7 Floella Benjamin] at the British Film Institute
• [http://www.tv.com/floella-benjamin/person/139696/summary.html Floella Benjamin profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929175342/http://www.tv.com/floella-benjamin/person/139696/summary.html |date=29 September 2007 }}, TV.Com; accessed 25 March 2014.
• {{IMDb name|id=0071302}}

{{s-start}}

{{s-aca}}

{{s-bef|before=The Lord Alexander of Weedon}}

{{s-ttl|title=Chancellor of the University of Exeter|years=2006–2016}}

{{s-aft|after=The Lord Myners}}

{{s-end}}

{{BAFTA Academy Fellowship Award}}

{{Current Liberal Democrat peers}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Benjamin, Floella}}

Category:1949 births

Category:Living people

Category:20th-century British actresses

Category:20th-century British memoirists

Category:21st-century British actresses

Category:2012 Summer Olympics cultural ambassadors

Category:Actors from the London Borough of Bromley

Category:Actresses awarded damehoods

Category:Actresses awarded British peerages

Category:Actresses from Kent

Category:BAFTA fellows

Category:BBC television presenters

Category:Black British actresses

Category:Black British television personalities

Category:Black British women politicians

Category:Black British women writers

Category:Black British writers

Category:British film actresses

Category:British stage actresses

Category:British television actresses

Category:British television presenters

Category:British television producers

Category:British voice actresses

Category:British women memoirists

Category:British women television presenters

Category:British women television producers

Category:Chancellors of the University of Exeter

Category:Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire

Category:Deputy lieutenants of Greater London

Category:English people of Trinidad and Tobago descent

Category:Liberal Democrats (UK) life peers

Category:Life peeresses created by Elizabeth II

Category:Life peers created by Elizabeth II

Category:People from Beckenham

Category:Members of the Order of Merit

Category:Trinidad and Tobago emigrants to the United Kingdom