Warm Tributes Paid to Bishop Clinton Sealy

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Funeral of charity Nubian Life's former chairman held in Askew Road church

The funeral of Bishop Clinton Sealy, the former chairman of White City charity Nubian Life, was held on Friday November 21 at the Askew Road Methodist Church in Shepherd's Bush.

The Nubian Life Resource Centre, a leading provider of community care services to African-Caribbean elders living in H&F since 1982, announced the Bishop's death earlier this month.

A spokesman for the resource centre, based in Ellerslie Road, said: " Bishop Sealy's faith, commitment and energy was unrivalled in his leadership of Nubian Life and as an advocate for the rights of the African Caribbean community.

" Bishop Sealy was instrumental in the creation of Saturday schools for African Caribbean children, in which he taught maths and English for many years."

Hammersmith and Fulham Mayor, Cllr Mercy Umeh, also paid tribute, saying: " Bishop Sealy was a tremendous inspiration to many African-Caribbean migrants in the borough over many years. He was active in just about every local group going and we owe him a huge debt of gratitude for his hard work. It’s safe to say he will never be forgotten."


Bishop Clinton Sealy was born in Barbados. Answering a request from London Transport, he came to the UK and settled in 1958. He worked on London buses for a decade, during which he joined the Transport and General Workers Union.

Sealy used knowledge gained from his employment and union membership to assist those experiencing workplace discrimination in London Transport. His voluntary service rapidly expanded to include housing advice for African-Caribbean families that struggled to find accommodation and education support.

These efforts led Bishop Sealy to found the Shepherds Social and Welfare Association. One of its first priorities was to establish the first black supplementary education classes in Shepherd's Bush, which supported children who had recently arrived from the Caribbean adjust to life in new schools. Linford Christie is one of many children who grew up in the area and benefited from the Association.

Sealy was a founding member of the Black Amalgamated Self Help Co-operative, and formed the Shepherds Bush Credit Union, a self-help financing organisation. These services proved invaluable to residents in the area, and they were soon replicated elsewhere as other black voluntary organisations came to Sealy to seek advice and inspiration.

His voluntary input to education was recognised by the Institute of Race Relations, who provided him with funding in 1972 for his work in schools. In 1975, he then joined the Hammersmith & Fulham Council for Racial Equality and was a delegate to the H&F Council for Community Relations.

This led him to be an influential member of the Commission for Racial Equality’s Education Sub Committee, through which he worked with communities outside Shepherds Bush to establish voluntary organisations and develop good practice. He continued with this role until his retirement in 1984.

Sealy’s impact on the local community was widespread, and it extended well into his retirement. Starting in 1985, he served for 28 years as chairman of Nubian Life. This was critical in enabling it to provide its unrivalled service to residents. Under his leadership, Nubian Life was Awarded The Queens Award for voluntary services in 2003.

Some of the many other groups he worked with include:

• Police Liaison Committee in Hammersmith and Fulham
• H&F Adoption Panel
• Barbados High Commission Health and Welfare Group
• Fulham Training Workshop
• Colebrook Social Cultural and Welfare Association
• The Black Amalgamated Self Help Co-operative
• Age Concern Hammersmith & Fulham
• Shepherds Bush Housing Association
• Woodstock Youth Hostel
• Addison Adult Evening Institute (Governor)
• Addison Forum
• White City Forum
• Friends of Brackenbury Infant School
• Rainbow after school – Harlesden
He received many awards, including:
• Long service Award – Nubian Life Resource Centre
• The Voice Newspaper Community Awards 1998
• Barbados High Commission Anniversary of Independence award 1996

Bishop Sealy joined the Priesthood and was ordained in July, 1986. He later founded the Trinity Free Church, located on Askew Road and was also a member the chaplaincy team at Hammersmith Hospital in Du Cane Road.ext of time here.

The charity says it will be celebrating Bishop Sealy’s contribution to the borough in the New Year.

November 24, 2014