THE remarkable life and career of Britain’s first black train driver has been commemorated with a plaque at Kings Cross station. 

Born in Jamaica, Wilston Samuel Jackson started his long and successful career maintaining trains in 1952 before working his way up to driver a decade later. 

Speaking at the unveiling of the plaque at Kings Cross yesterday, his daughter Polly said her father had never been late or missed a day.

“He was so proud of his work, despite the many challenges he faced. Today was a fitting tribute to his life and career.”

Mr Jackson, who died aged 91 in 2018, was not the first black person to apply for the role, and many applications were blocked at the time due to racism. 

After his appointment, some of his colleagues launched an unsuccessful bid to prevent white men working under him. 

Train drivers’ union Aslef, of which Mr Jackson was a member, highlighted that 60 years on, only 10 per cent of train drivers are from an ethnic minority. 

“Aslef continues to campaign for change across the sector and for a driving grade that represents 21st-century Britain,” the union’s general secretary Mick Whelan said. 

“This blue plaque is fitting recognition of that.”