George Deane moved to Bradford from the Caribbean when he was only five years old and has seen great changes in attitudes over the last five decades.

Now 59-years-old, Mr Deane reflected back over his life at the start of this year’s Black History month.

Mr Deane moved to the UK with his parents from Barbados in the early 1960s and the family settled in Bradford.

At the time, he said there were not many opportunities for people of colour in the city and he and his family were often subject to racism, but he believes the city has grown into its multicultural landscape, and embraced the diversity of its communities.

He said: “I suffered racism at school and growing up, and it was blatant racism.

“I remember I had adults actually calling me racist names, and one time I was walking to school and there were three older white people talking.

“They were digging up the pavement, and as a five year old boy one of them said to another that we were ‘taking over the place’, and they refused to let me walk past.

“I had to walk in the road to get by, and it is hard to imagine a five year old being subject to that kind of thing now.

“Using the n-word to a five year old would be unheard of now.”

The Black Health Group chairman, from Horton Bank Top, also recalled discussion about food he used to have at school, and how attitudes have changed.

He said that people would be disgusted and confused when they used to ask him what he ate for an evening meal, and he would tell them “rice and peas”.

“Now when people ask and I tell them rice and peas, they tell me all these different ways that I should cook it and what to have with it.

“People have different views now, and the diversity of our community means people are trying new things, and it enriches people’s values.”

However, Mr Deane said that there is still work to do to tackle inequality and diversity in the workplace.

He said that if more ethnic minority people can be given roles at all levels of business, it can help save money and increase productivity because of increased diversity.

“It is important to have more diversity in the workforce as what it means is that people’s needs are less likely to be overlooked.

“If we can do that, it can strengthen Bradford and put Bradford forward as a leading city in the county.”

Black History Month will run all throughout October, with various events during this month.