One of the most charismatic of London’s Barbadian Pioneers, London Transport, was laid to rest at the City of London crematorium on Friday, 28th November.
Born on Tuesday, October 30th, 1934, in Gills Gap, St. Michael, Sam Springer left Barbados for London in 1956, where he found work on London Transport (TFL) as a Trolley bus conductor. His ambition was to become a Driver, but at a time when Black folk were deemed unsuitable for the role, he overcame this obstacle and became a driver at Highgate Garage in 1957.
Overcoming his challenges heightened his interest in politics and the Trade Unions. Like many activist Barbadians around this period, he gravitated into Race Relations alongside his schoolboy friend Winston Pinder. In 1971, he joined Hackney Council as a Councillor and sat on many committees, such as Economic Development, Roads & Planning, Race Relations, Race Equality, Housing, etc.
1976, Springer received an MBE for his race and community relations services. Two years later, he was appointed commissioner to investigate employment policies. This period led to his being chosen to join the Home Secretary’s Standing Advisory Council on Race and the London Employment Conciliation Committee’s Race Relations Board.
In 1982, he became the first Black Mayor of Hackney Borough Council and, during this period, initiated the twinning with Bridgetown. Whilst Mayor, he organised a delegation to Dallas, Texas, investigating the possibility of building black enterprises in the UK. It was here where he made a lasting impression and was awarded the Keys to the City of Dallas. During this period, Sam became an executive member of the DLP branch in the UK in various roles and served as Chairman; colleagues spoke of this booming voice that resonated across most rooms and his commanding presence. As an advisor to the umbrella group of Barbadian associations in the UK (NCBA), Springer encouraged collaboration with the High Commission and saw the group as an integral part of the Community landscape.
Another unknown factor was Sam’s love for music, manifested in his management of the Pantonic Steel Band for several years, including taking them on tour and representing Hackney abroad. In 1984, he was given the Freedom of the City of London—a tradition that recognises an individual’s contribution to the capital—for his work on behalf of disadvantaged communities, particularly visible minorities.
Sam was always the innovator and investigator, continually seeking ways to improve systems. This led him to join fact-finding missions with the council, taking him to places like France, Germany, Russia, and the USA.
In 2016, Sam Springer MBE received a Barbados Golden Jubilee medal, which was presented to him by Barbados Prime Minister Freundel Stuart at a ceremony at the Savoy Hotel.
In recent years, he became ill and lacked mobility; this was not a deterrent as he took to Zoom, where he joined meetings and continued to offer his words of wisdom to the community and the wider network. RIP, Sam Springer.MBE
