About

A selection of photography from Frontline 1984/1985, an exhibition exploring Bradford's African Caribbean communities in the ’80s.

Victor Wedderburn Jr arrived in the UK from Jamaica in 1971 at the age of 16, joining his Windrush Generation parents here in Bradford. When redundancy took his job at Crofts Engineers in the early 1980s, he used his pay-off to buy a second-hand camera and film developing kit, then set about documenting life in the city.

This selection is drawn from Frontline 1984/1985, the first ever exhibition from this self-taught photographer, and vividly evokes African Caribbean life in Bradford 40 years ago. From Lumb Lane landmarks such as Roots Record Shop and the Perseverance Hotel to sound system parties, these photographs tell a story that’s sometimes written out of Bradford’s history.

Don’t miss this powerful window into a lost era – a striking snapshot of a community that Victor Wedderburn knew from the inside out.

Lead image: © Victor Wedderburn