Tony O'Connor

Tony O'Connor (born 1921 or 1922) was a British West Indies teacher (Jamaica 1962 Onwards). His 1967 appointment as a headteacher in Smethwick England—he was the first black person to hold such a post—caused a racist backlash.

Early life

O'Connor was born in British West Indies (Jamaica) in 1921 or 1922. He joined the RAF in 1943, during World War II, achieving the rank of flight sergeant and moving to the United Kingdom.

Career

After the war, O'Connor took a teaching diploma at the University of Birmingham, then worked as a teacher, serving at two schools in Smethwick, including three years as deputy head at Albion School. He is widely held to have been the first black person to be a head teacher in the United Kingdom. He was reported as saying that he did not care if he was the "first, second, third or 250th West Indian headmaster".

Personal life

At the time of his Bearwood appointment, O'Connor was living at Hall Green, Birmingham.

Among O'Connor's pupils at Smethwick was Doreen Foster, subsequently director of Warwick Arts Centre.

Papers relating to O'Connor's headmastership are held by Sandwell Archives.