Career
Born in Spanish Town, Jamaica, he was recruited into the Royal Air Force in Jamaica in 1944 and in 1945 visited Royal Air Force Syerston but was based at Little Rissington, Bedford. From this visit he decided he wanted to come and live in Nottingham. lieutenant was his lifelong passion for racial equality that inspired him to move into public life.
Because of the prejudices shown towards black people in the 1950"s, Mr.
Irons set up the first community group the Colonial Social and Sports Club, at his own house. Irons began work at Chilwell Ordnance Depot in the offices in 1952.
Only a handful of black workers were employed at the depot. Irons began to take up the issue of discrimination with the Nottingham and District Trades Council.
Through his efforts of negotiation, some of the problems were resolved and more black workers were taken on, both in the depot and in other employment.
In 1955 Eric irons went onto the Consultative Committee for the welfare of black people, which was set up by a Council of Church/Social Services and the Colonial Social and Sports Club. The idea was to discuss prejudice and local issues. One of the problems lay in the fact that no black people were taking advantage of educational courses particularly those held by the Western Economic Association, USA. He challenged and helped to lift a city transport embargo on the employment of black workers and also helped the city council to tackle problems highlighted by the 1958 race riots.
He made history in 1962 when he was appointed Britain"s first black magistrate.
He was to sit on the Nottingham bench for 29 years intil his retirement in 1991.
