A Portrait of Tony Powlett

By John Ferguson

Photography had always been part of Tony Powlett’s life. His first camera was an old film model, and he spent decades capturing the activities at the Caribbean Club.  ‘I was the official photographer,’ he says. ‘Unspoken, but official.’

He reflects on the tactile joy of handling rolls of film, the suspense of waiting for them to develop, and the satisfaction when he finally held those printed memories in his hands. Tony recorded moments that could have easily slipped away. ‘I didn’t know I was recording history,’ he says. ‘I was just doing what I loved.’ 

In the 1970s, the Caribbean Club was the heart of the community: a place to learn, to grow, and celebrate Caribbean culture. ‘We wanted to teach the younger generation about our culture,’ he reflects. He remembers visiting schools to show kids what the Caribbean was really about. 

Tony’s Olympus OM2 35mm camera with a 28mm lens captured weddings, birthdays, football victories, and community celebrations. He even captured the day when a young Prince Charles visited the centre. 

‘There’s no one moment that stands out,’ he reflects. ‘It’s all of them together. Every photo tells a part of the story.’ 

The football team was another source of pride. ‘We were the Manchester United of the local league,’ he says with a smile. ‘Some of our players went pro. We could’ve had a lot more if the system had been different.’ Tony recognises the talent that wasn’t always given the platform it deserved.

Cricket outings and matches also played an important part of Tony’s life at the ICA. ‘These guys needed transport, and I had a car,’ he recalls. ‘One day, I’m driving them to matches. Next thing you know, I’m managing the team!’

Tony’s love for photography and football may have started as hobbies, but they grew into something far more meaningful—a way to preserve the spirit of a community, and to ensure its stories are not forgotten.