Kettering artist awarded annual civic prize for preserving William Knibb’s place in town’s history

Daniel accepted the 2025 Rose Bowl Award for Civic Pride from Oliver Wicksteed, Deputy Lieutenant of Northamptonshire, in front of a crowd of assembled guests at the Fuller Cafe in Newland Street.

The 33-year-old artist was chosen by Kettering Civic Society for his four-year project to honour Kettering-born Baptist missionary, who travelled to Jamaica and

highlighted the horrors of enslavement – he created about 20 paintings after extensive research.

Monica Ozdemir, secretary of Kettering Civic Society said: “Daniel’s project began in 2021, when Kettering’s coat of arms was altered after the town became part of the new unitary council.

"Earlier coats of arms had featured a reference to William Knibb, the Kettering-born Baptist missionary who travelled to Jamaica and, after witnessing the horrors of slavery, campaigned tirelessly for emancipation.

"The new design omitted Knibb, and while many local people were angered, others were unaware of the importance of the broken-chains symbol that had previously appeared.”

Determined to keep this history alive, Daniel – a member of Kettering and District Art Society – resolved to ensure Knibb’s memory and contribution to abolition were not forgotten. He approached Kettering Civic Society for support, and together they secured funding from Kettering Town Council for a major art exhibition.

The one-man show held in September traced the trials and triumphs of Knibb’s life. It was staged at the Toller Meeting Rooms, where Knibb himself had attended Sunday school as a child.

Daniel said: “I really related to William Knibb. Like him I’m from a working class background and come from a big family. I’m from Kettering. He was able to achieve something extraordinary.

"It was lovely to get the award and a big surprise. I didn’t know it was going to be such a big event. I’m very proud and very happy.”

Monica said: “Knibb’s legacy is recognised far beyond Kettering. In Jamaica, he is held in high regard. The William Knibb Memorial School in Falmouth also bears his name, and among its most famous former pupils is Olympic legend Usain Bolt.”

The Civic Society hopes to support the school after it was damaged by Hurricane Melissa. Kettering residents supported the foundation of schools on the island to provide funds and equipment.

Monica added: “The William Knibb Memorial School is wrecked. We are going to start an appeal. It’s like history repeating itself, keeping his legacy alive.”

William Knibb

In 1988, on the 180th anniversary of the abolition of slavery in the British Colonies, William Knibb was awarded one of the nation’s highest honours—the Order of Merit.

Today, reminders of Knibb can still be found around Kettering – the William Knibb Centre on Montagu Street, a Civic Society blue plaque at his birthplace, mosaics in the Newlands Shopping Centre, and the celebrated Kettering Mosaic—now joined by a smaller version displayed in the Alfred East Art Gallery.