Black Core Kent Hosts Geoff Thompson MBE for Ashford Launch of Memoir: Big Black Bast*Rd

Last month, Black Core Kent welcomed five-time World Karate Champion, author and youth advocate Geoff Thompson MBE to The Coachworks in Ashford for the launch of his new memoir, Big Black Bast*rd, the first book in his powerful new trilogy exploring race, class, sport and identity in Britain.

Neil 'Razor' Ruddock Interviews Prof Geoff Thompson, MBE

The evening was presented with the support of Radio Ashford and Ball Contractors, and held in partnership with The Coachworks, which opened its doors as the setting for the celebration. Geoff now calls Ashford home, and the evening marked both a personal milestone for him and a wider moment for Ashford, bringing together voices from sport, culture, education and social impact around a story that speaks honestly about resilience and growing up Black in Britain, then and now.

The evening was opened with welcoming remarks from The Worshipful the Mayor of Ashford, Councillor Lyn Suddards, and hosted by John "Webbo" Webster of Radio Ashford's Wake Up with Webbo, who served as Master of Ceremonies and co-organised the event alongside Black Core Kent. The author conversation was moderated by former professional footballer Neil "Razor" Ruddock, followed by a book reading and signing.

"Events like this are exactly why I founded Black Core Kent, it’s about creating spaces in Ashford where culture, stories and community can come together and start conversation, and the response to the launch showed there was a real appetite for it," said Jo Oluwo, Founder & Director of Black Core Kent.

The evening forms part of Black Core Kent's ongoing commitment to creating platforms where stories of Black and Brown identity, culture and achievement are told honestly and celebrated publicly as reflected in the organisation's cultural programme, from Black History Month to community storytelling events across Ashford and wider Kent.

Photography for the evening was captured by Luke Yates, with videography by Mark Machado and JJ Jemiyo. Event production support from Black Core Kent’s advisor Martin Heap.

A full photo gallery from the evening is available to view here.