Alwyn Roberts, Lord Kitchener
This plaque honoured the artist and entrepreneur Aldwyn Roberts. Mr Roberts, better known as ‘Lord Kitchener’, was a pioneering Trinidadian musician acknowledged globally as the King of Calypso.
Lord Kitchener's music, characterized by its infectious rhythms and witty lyrics, not only entertained but also served as a powerful tool for social commentary. As an entrepreneur, he was a trailblazer, owning and managing two successful nightclubs in Manchester. He was a key figure in the Windrush generation and a renowned passenger who travelled to Britain on the Empire Windrush.
His iconic moment, singing “London is the Place for Me” in acapella on the deck of the Empire Windrush in 1948, is memorable. After settling in the capital, Aldwin Roberts moved to Old Trafford in the early 1950s, where he left an indelible mark on the community. He eventually owned two nightclubs in Manchester, becoming a well-known personality in the area.
According to census records, he lived at 48 Brooks Road from 1962 -1966. Trafford Archives retains some of his press clippings from that period and confirms his time at this address.