Events in Greenwich Park
A new memorial to Ignatius Sancho in Greenwich Park will be unveiled in 2025.
The new Sancho Cafe in Greenwich Park opened on Saturday, March 23, 2024. At the opening, a group of musicians from Hackney and Blackheath, led by Chris Harrison, performed arrangements of Sancho's music and led some members of the audience in one of Sancho's country dances.
On Saturday September 21/22, 2024, there was a performance of a new piece of musical theatre about Sancho in the Flower Garden at Greenwich Park. The performances scheduled for Sunday 22, which would have included an additional performance of some of Sancho's music at 3.30pm were unfortunately cancelled due to bad weather.
New signage in the park will include references to Sancho.
Saturday 13th September 2025 (Part of E11 Festival)
Ignatius Sancho: from Slave Ship to Westminster
Speaker: Chris Harrison
Among many prominent black 18th century British citizens, Ignatius Sancho is distinguished for the breadth of his interests & the range of his social contacts. A writer, composer & owner of a small business, he was acquainted with many important figures of his time, including Laurence Sterne, David Garrick, Joseph Nollekens & the Montagu family. He is one of the first black Britons to have voted in a general election – a considerable achievement for someone thought to have been born on a slave ship crossing the Atlantic. Chris Harrison, musician & educator, has done much to raise awareness of Sancho’s life & work & will tell the story of how Sancho made this remarkable journey, illustrated by a live performance by members of the Hackney Community Orchestra (of which Chris is musical director) of some of Sancho’s music.
Talk to Mycenae House History Group, Jan 25, 2021
Click here for a transcript