Val McCalla [1943 - 2002]

Val McCalla was a Jamaican accountant and media entrepreneur, who studied accountancy at Kingston College in Jamaica. Moving to England when he was 15 years old, McCalla wanted to be a pilot for the Royal Air Force, but because of a perforated eardrum, he went on to be a bookkeeper instead.

After volunteering to work on a community newspaper, McCalla found his voice as a publisher and launched The Voice in 1982. The weekly newspaper focusing on the relevant issues and interests of the Black community in Britain quickly filled a void and it became a massive success.

The paper was a training ground for several journalists and launched the careers of TV interviewers, TV producers, novelists, publishers and broadsheet journalists. McCalla also went on to own other publications such as Chic and Pride magazines and founded The Weekly Journal in 1991 to secure a place in the growing market. McCalla spent his last years living on the Sussex coast.

Location: Blue Star House, 234 -244 Stockwell Road Brixton, London, SW9 9SP