Leslie "Teacher" Palmer MBE

Claire Holder (Carnival organiser 1989–2002):

"Leslie Palmer brought the Caribbean community together because at the time, when he became chairman of the carnival it was a purely Trinidadian thing. Leslie said, ‘there are so many aspects to Caribbean culture and it should all be represented.’ That act alone didn't just bring people into carnival; it actually impacted on our whole perception as Carnival people. His impact went beyond Carnival. It had an impact upon our existence as black people in this country."

In the words of Tom Vague: "Under the administration of Leslie Palmer, the Notting Hill Peoples Carnival was transformed into an urban festival of black music, incorporating all aspects of Trinidad’s Carnival... getting sponsorship, recruiting more steel bands, reggae groups and sound systems, introducing generators and extending the route.The attendance went up accordingly from 3,000 at the beginning of the 70's to 30–50,000.

He also arranged for photographs from the Carnival to be exhibited at London's Institute of Contemporary Arts.