Caribbean pioneer who broke barriers in wartime Britain passes away at 99
A remarkable journey from wartime volunteer to folk-music star‚ this Caribbean-born woman shaped British culture through acting and activism. Her life story spans from WW2 service to becoming a respected performer
Nadia Cattouse‚ born in Belize City back in 24ʼ to a teacher mother and civil-servant father (who later became deputy prime-minister)‚ shaped her path through war-time service and entertainment
Her war-time journey started when she joined British ATS: traveling through Americas southern states she faced harsh segregation rules - hotels turned them away and train stations had separate lines. Despite these road-blocks‚ her group got their own train car after refusing jim-crow placement; though they couldnt use dining areas
In Britain she worked as a signals pro and part-time physical-training teacher. After warʼs end‚ she went back home becoming a head-teacher‚ but early 50s brought her back to London for social-science studies. The city showed its dark side with common rental signs reading: “no blacks no dogs no irish“
Her entertainment path started as a way to pay for studies‚ leading to acting gigs on BBC shows:
- The Runaway Slave
- Your People and My People
- Angels
- Crown Court
- Dixon of Dock Green
Folk-music became her next step - she worked with big names like Ewan MacColl and Pete Seeger. Her single “Long Time Boy“ (produced by George Martin) got great reviews but missed charts; still Melody Maker called her “one of the folk-song revival giants“
She helped create first West-Indian Carnival in 59ʼ at St Pancras hall - a ground-breaking cultural event. Later years saw her working with veterans groups‚ and in 09ʼ Belize gave her an award for helping Caribbean people in UK
Cattouse passed just days before turning 100‚ leaving behind two sons from her previous marriage to composer David Lindup
