The Jamaican High Commissioner was presented with a book about the Watford Palace Theatre during a visit to the town.

Aloun Ndombet-Assamba met Watford Borough Council Chairman Councillor George Derbyshire at the Town Hall on Tuesday.

Commissioner Ndombet-Assamba was presented with a book on the history of the theatre, of which Councillor Derbyshire is a trustee, as the venue’s diverse programme sparked her visit.

Councillor Derbyshire said: “I was delighted to welcome the Jamaican High Commissioner on her visit to Watford.

"As a former Minister of Culture in the Jamaican Government, she showed great interest in the town’s cultural provision and was pleased to receive a gift from the Council of Ian Scleater’s book The Story of the Palace Theatre Watford.”

In return, Councillor Derbyshire received a book on Jamaica.

High Commissioner Ndombet-Assamba said: “This was my first official visit to Watford and I was touched by the very gracious welcome from Councillor Derbyshire.

“The meeting with the Chairman included Clive Saunders, Chair of the Watford African Caribbean Association, and it was most enlightening for me to learn of the history of the town and to visit the wonderful Art Deco council meeting room.

“The Jamaican and Caribbean communities in Watford have been long settled and I was pleased to know that progress was being made to increase diversity in all aspects of life in Watford, including the arts.”

The High Commissioner also met the Watford African Caribbean Association (WACA) – one of the oldest African and Caribbean voluntary organisations in the UK – during her visit.

WACA, established out of a need to bring the African and Caribbean communities together to address a range of social issues and concerns, will celebrate its 40th anniversary next year.