Watford is living in a “lull before a storm” as far as race relations are concerned, says schoolmaster Mr Laurie Gibson, who has just completed a survey to find out if there is any racial discrimination in the town.

And why did Mr Gibson, of Harwoods Road, Watford, who teaches at Harrow Junior College, decide to carry out the survey?

He says: “According to many knowledgable people there is no racial discrimination in Watford. Is it possible, I wondered, despite the overall racial discrimination in England, that Watford has somehow escaped and is a haven of light in the surrounding gloom?”

Mr Gibson warns of an approaching crisis if positive action is not taken in the “few precious years we do have to avert future difficulties”.

He comments: “My worry is that as far as community relations are concerned, we are living in a period like a lull before a storm.”

He argues that while the coloured immigrants to a certain extent accept discrimination and hostility because they at least have found a higher standard of living, their children will expect better things.

“This general acceptance of discrimination will not carry over to the immigrants’ children. These children, brought up in England, educated in English schools, in many cases achieving good academic qualifications, are simply black Englishmen,” Mr Gibson states.

“They have no memory of poverty in Pakistan or the West Indies. They expect jobs suited to their qualifications and to be able to buy a house if they have the money. If they experience racial discrimination, they will not accept it as the price for a higher living standard. Instead, they will feel bitter resentment.

 “Some undoubtedly will move towards a Black Power position and racial trouble would then be imminent.”

Mr Gibson’s survey looks into three areas of possible discrimination and in all three he says: “I found racial discrimination.”

[From the Watford Observer of October 15, 1971]