We are very pleased to announce that Fred Taggart, BAC Trustee and Honorary Secretary has been appointed MBE in the Queen’s 90th Birthday Honours for services to regeneration and charity in Lambeth over the last 35 years 

Fred has been a trustee at BAC for some 30 years, the last 25 of which acting as Honorary Secretary

When Fred first got involved with Brixton Advice Centre in 1986 we were in rented offices in what is now just a part of our current premises and we employed two advisors only

Fred led the fundraising to acquire the building (with Brixton City Challenge grants and other charitable donations), and then when the offices next door became vacant, when Race Today magazine closed and CLR James, who lived in the upstairs flat, died, led negotiations with the owners, Lambeth Council, to buy the premises

We raised over £100k to buy the building and then a further £300k to knock the two buildings into one and refurbish them to give us the premises we enjoy today. The Centre now has 12 staff, including trainee barristers, solicitors and professional advisers

Also of note, it was Fred who persuaded English Heritage to erect the Blue Plaque on the building to mark the residence of CLR James (incidentally, the first Blue Plaque to a black man in Lambeth)

Brixton Blog: Advice centre and Fun Palace work honoured

Carnegie Herne Hill: Fred Taggart awarded MBE in Queen’s Birthday Honours

 

 

Brixton Advice Centre is a charity and is funded through donations and by:

     

Registered Charity No. 291484. A Company Limited by Guarantee. Registered Office: 167 Railton Road Brixton London SE24 OLU. Registered in England No. 01893924