October is Black History Month, and I was recently asked by members of council staff to nominate some Slough people from our Black And Ethnic Minority community who have made history.

My first example was someone I went to school with, Keith Connor. He won a bronze medal in the triple jump at the 1984 Olympic Games and gold medals at the Commonwealth Games and European Championships.

Keith and I were in the same PE lessons at Slough and Eton Church of England Secondary School. He was of course much better at PE than me! He had a real bond with our PE teacher, Mr King, who no doubt spotted a real star.

I am sure Keith’s respect for his Slough school mentor inspired him to have a successful second career as head coach of the Australian athletics team.

Lydia Simmons OBE is my second black Slough history maker. She was unusual in being a Slough councillor of West Indian origin who not only became our first citizen but also, in 1984 the first black woman to be a mayor in England.

Lydia came to Slough from the Caribbean to find work. I am sure her courage and ability to rise to whatever challenge life threw at her made her do what all too few others from her community have done and do it well.

My third example is Arden Bhattacharya, who rose through the ranks in Slough Council to become Town Clerk and chief executive. In 1985 he became the first non-white council chief executive in the country.

Arden, who still lives in Slough, trained as a barrister-at-law, and I am sure his combination of hard work and attention to detail took him right to the top in local government.

Three remarkable people, one remarkable place.