Billboard Honouring Kelso Cochrane Unveiled for Notting Hill Carnival

On Friday 15 August, a historic billboard was unveiled on Ladbroke Grove to honour Kelso Cochrane, an Antiguan-born carpenter whose racially motivated murder in 1959 became a turning point in Black British history and helped pave the way for the creation of Notting Hill Carnival.

The initiative was led by Black history educator Kayne Kawasaki in partnership with BlackHistoryandme. Earlier this year, Kawasaki launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for what he calls the “Notting Hill Carnival Billboard Takeover”, designed to highlight Carnival’s founding figures and ensure its roots are never forgotten.

Cochrane, who was just 32 at the time of his death, was attacked by white youths on Southam Street in Notting Hill on 17 May 1959. His murder remains unsolved to this day. The shock and injustice of his killing became a catalyst for community organising and directly contributed to the establishment of Notting Hill Carnival, a celebration born out of both grief and resistance.

The new billboard is located at the Sainsbury’s roundabout on Ladbroke Grove, one of the busiest points on the Carnival route. It displays a striking image of Cochrane alongside a powerful quote from the late activist Darcus Howe:

“If there weren’t race riots in Notting Hill I don’t believe that we would have had the Notting Hill Carnival. If it wasn’t for the murder of Kelso Cochrane, Carnival wouldn’t have happened.”

In an interview with The Voice newspaper earlier this year, Kawasaki explained that the idea stemmed from the annual online debates about Carnival losing touch with its history.

“If we continue on that trajectory, we risk losing not only the importance of Notting Hill Carnival, we risk losing Notting Hill Carnival itself. Rather than just talking about it, I wanted to walk the walk.”

More than 100 people attended the unveiling, including members of Kelso Cochrane’s family who also addressed the crowd. The event was a vibrant celebration of Caribbean culture, with live steelpan music, a performance by Calypsonian Alexander D. Great, and food from local vendors such as Flake Bake Patties and PureCane Juice. It was realised through a collaboration with Acexchange, an organisation powered by British professional boxer Anthony Joshua.

Kawasaki’s campaign quickly captured public imagination. He secured the £2,000 billboard space in just a day and a half through donations, after initially borrowing the money from his mother to lock in the site. He has since revealed bigger ambitions, including bus shelter

takeovers and a long-term goal of a Westfield White City billboard dedicated to Carnival’s history.

“Notting Hill Carnival is a story with many authors. This billboard is just the beginning. As we go forward, I want to make sure all the founding figures are honoured.”

The billboard will remain in place for two weeks, from 15 to 26 August, throughout the Carnival period. Visitors are encouraged to stop by, take photos, and share them on social media to help raise awareness of Carnival’s origins and the legacy of Kelso Cochrane.

This unveiling comes at a crucial moment, as Notting Hill Carnival continues to face negative media scrutiny each year. By reclaiming the narrative, the campaign ensures that Carnival’s true roots in resilience, resistance and cultural pride remain firmly in the public eye.

Congratulations to Kayne Kawasaki, everyone who donated, and the family of Kelso Cochrane for making this historic moment possible.