Cedric Clarke

Cedric Clarke is a retired British Labour politician. He was the first black Leeds City Councillor, serving from 1980 to 1990 and was made an Honorary Alderman of Leeds in 2016

Career Clarke was elected to represent the Chapel Allerton ward in 1980, becoming the first African-Caribbean councillor in Leeds. He was involved with a number of council initiatives, for example chairing the Equal Opportunities Committee for Leeds City Council. Within three years of being elected, Clarke and his fellow-councillors introduced 220 new houses to the area, consistent street-cleaning, homes for the elderly, new nursery units and support for small businesses.

Personal life Prior to his election as a councillor, Clarke worked as a plasterer and lived in Chapeltown with his wife and three children. Active in the local community, Clarke volunteered with probation services and was a trainee preacher at Roscoe Methodist Church. He established the United Caribbean Association, along with the founder of Leeds West Indian Carnival, Arthur France.