Honouring three very special trustees
A party for Martin, Pat and Terry
40 people gathered at the Brady Arts and Community Centre in Whitechapel on June 21st for a lunch party to thank and celebrate Pat Boyer, Terry McGregor and Martin Spafford, JtoJ’s longest serving, invaluable trustees, who have been with us from the start. Required by our constitution to step down after three three year terms, happily they will continue at the heart of our work as volunteers. So this was a joyful party.
Guests included JtoJ partners, trustees, volunteers, funders, supporters and family. Others unable to attend sent messages and we heard wonderful warm words from speakers who have worked with Terry, Martin and Pat. (Speeches and messages below). Pat and Martin responded with thanks, describing what JtoJ means to them.
We showed films highlighting JtoJ’s work and remembered Mark Hutchinson, co-founder of the organisation who tragically died in 2023 and will always be with us.
Trish Kelly who made the JtoJ banner, T-shirts and a massive cake for our 2014 launch, created beautiful personalised ceramic plates for us to present to the three. Each is inscribed with the words of Bayard Rustin, Martin Luther King Jr’s right hand man, whose story we tell in our exhibition, “The proof that one truly believes, is in action.”
A delicious curry, dahl, rice and salad lunch was supplied by local caterers, Oitij-Jo, a women’s collective who come highly recommended: https://oitij-jo.org/
Huge thanks to everyone who sent donations to help with the party costs and to anyone who has ever supported JtoJ. You are part of the vast network which makes us ‘sing’.
With thanks, from Abi, Carrie and Tania to all those who helped to set up before and clear up after the party and to the staff at Brady.
Photos: Olive Supple-Still and Tania Aubeelack
The speeches
Julie Begum, key JtoJ Tower Hamlets partner
Welcome to the Brady arts and community centre. A very special place for me – l hosted my brother and sister in law’s marriage reception here in 1993 after they came to the UK, my sister in law’s first ever trip outside of Sylhet, let alone Bangladesh; it was a cold snow filled February day but we had a warm welcome for them with 300+ guests in these two hall combined and Carrie – who’s mum worked here as a youth worker in the 1940s.
The food we are going to eat is provided by Otij-jo catering collective which my sister in law works with so l am looking forward to eating it as much as you.
However, today, I want to share a powerful story of how local history can ignite a passion for social change, led by two extraordinary individuals:
As dedicated educators and core volunteers, Martin and Pat have spent years keeping history alive through their tireless work with Journey to Justice.
Their mission is clear: to share less-known stories of struggles for equality, showing that ordinary people can achieve extraordinary things.
A shining example of this is their brilliant collaborations with The Swadhinata Trust in East London ten years ago in this very building here in the Brady arts and community centre with Girlz United and more recently in Oxford House in Bethnal Green with Oaklands secondary school.
Through this partnership, Martin and Pat co-deliver hands-on workshops that preserve the community history of 1970s Bangladeshi anti-racist activism. They bring alive the stories of how Tower Hamlets residents mobilised against racism and the National Front. They don’t just teach the past; they show how a targeted community found its voice, organised, and built collective power from within.
When Martin and Pat run a workshop, they bring enthusiasm supported with historic research, examples of cultural protest music, and personal testimonies. They challenge young people and community networks to analyse real-world campaign tactics, map out where power lies, and design their own action plans for the future.
Martin and Pat remind us that history is not just text in a boring textbook. It is a living, breathing tool for community organizing. By giving marginalised histories a platform, they ensure that the bravery of past generations sparks meaningful action for social and economic justice today. Thank you, Martin and Pat, for showing us how to turn memory into momentum.
Weiwei Mao, volunteer bookkeeper with JtoJ
I had the pleasure of working closely with Terry from November 2019 until I stepped down to go on maternity leave in 2024.
When I started, I had a lot to learn. Thankfully, Terry was always incredibly patient and generous with his time. He took the time to explain the accounts, helped me navigate our bookkeeping software, and even lent me a book on financial management so I could better understand the bigger picture behind the numbers.
Over the years, we spent many hours working together alongside Carrie, the founder and then director of the charity, and Pat, our secretary, discussing budgets, finances, and the future of the organisation. Through those meetings, I came to appreciate not only Terry’s expertise and attention to detail, but also his calm, thoughtful approach and his unwavering commitment to the charity.
One of the things I admire most about Terry is that he never kept his knowledge to himself. He was always willing to explain, guide, and encourage others. I learned a great deal from him, and I remain very grateful for his support and mentorship.
Although I have left the charity, I was delighted to be invited back. In fact, I’ve brought my husband and daughter with me because I wanted to be here to celebrate Terry’s decade of service to the charity and to thank him properly for everything he has done.
Terry, thank you for your dedication, your wisdom, your patience, and your friendship. The charity has benefited enormously from your experience and guidance over the years. While we will miss seeing you in your current role, we are fortunate that you will continue to volunteer and remain part of the charity family.
And finally, on a personal note, I know how much Terry loves being a grandfather. As we’re gathering here on this special day, I’d like to take this opportunity to wish him a very happy Father’s Day.
Michelle Perkins, JtoJ trustee
It has been a JOY getting to work with Pat more closely – someone I’ve known but not well for the last decade. I can’t say your name Pat without the most enormous smile coming to my face. You are all HEART. And also to work with the legend that is Terry. There’s definitely a twinkle in our outgoing Treasurer’s eye! I work for a small charity and am a parent governor at my daughter’s school, in these precarious financial times where everything is squeezed and then squeezed some more, I have a much greater appreciation for all that goes into the numbers to keep JtoJ’s work going – a charity that achieves so much while spending so little! Thank you Terry, you’re a behind the scenes STAR.
When I was asked if I’d say a few works today about Martin and my immediate response was yes, followed by a ‘oh I bet I cry!’ and I will! I met Martin through my work at what was Facing History & Ourselves, now rebranded to Teach for Tomorrow, at some point in 2016 and have been blessed to work in partnership with him ever since. I met Martin not that long after dear Dad had passed away.
Today is Fathers’ Day, and my dad was someone whose opinion and whose reassurance about this crazy, difficult, beautiful world I sought. Martin you may not quite realise that you’re someone whose opinions I seek and value, they matter to me, and I always want to know what you think about something that’s happening. These are challenging times and weighty issues in our work, and knowing I can talk to you gives me great comfort.
For our first project together, we ran a series of workshops with students from five schools in Brent. I don’t know about the students (I do, they loved it!) but I was captivated! I felt like a sponge, soaking up what Martin was saying, how he was saying it – the connection you were making with the students, drawing their thoughts and feelings from them with great sensitivity.
I’m always struck by your curiosity and sensitive asking of questions, because you care, you want to know, you want to understand better, you want to give young people the opportunity to express themselves and really importantly, to feel comfortable doing so. Your curiosity and connection are beautiful.
I’ve always been in awe of your knowledge, the breadth and depth of what interests you – and that love of learning – but it’s not just that, it’s the care with which that knowledge is used. It’s never arrogant, it’s never about you – it’s always about others. You have such interest in people and empathy – for their experiences and for them to find their voice. Thank you, Martin. I’m so very grateful to have you in my life.
Professor George Lewis, key JtoJ Leicester partner
I have had the privilege of working with Pat, Martin and Terry for over a decade, starting with the organisation of the Leicester variant of the travelling exhibition.
It is only fair to say that I have had less contact with Terry, whose elected role is obviously more behind the scenes, but is no less important. There’s a rule of thumb in my day job that you only here from the treasurer if you or the organisation is in trouble, so in that sense – and in that sense alone – I am pleased not to have had more engagement with Terry. But I also know as a result that it’s a crucial role and one very few people ever want to take on.
I want to just say two things about the privilege of working with Pat and Martin. First, as individuals, I don’t think I have ever come across two people more consistently and energetically enthusiastic. They have always said “yes” to meetings, engaged positively with projects, provided sympathetic sounding boards. And given how busy they are with all manner of projects, that has been wonderful.
Second is the atmosphere that their trusteeship has done so much to foster. Their approach reminds me of that of someone who, just like them, combined social justice activism with being a teacher: the second most important civil rights strategist most people have never heard of, Robert Paris Moses.
For my money, Bob Moses has been the most effective social justice organiser in history. (The 1964 Freedom Summer was effectively his project). But if I read two very short – I promise! – reflections on his own activism, I hope you’ll notice like I did the similarities between his work and Pat and Martin’s approach. Sometimes, you wonder whether Moses has directly plundered from the Pat and Martin playbook. This is all about creating the conditions for others to thrive in their own quests for social justice. Here is what Moses said about that 1964 campaign:
“When we first went [there]. We didn’t know what we could do. And we went there more or less with the attitude to try and find out what was possible, that is to see what could be done. We didn’t have any resources, really, and we weren’t sure how we should go about it or what it was that we should do.”
“It was possible to find, in almost every community in which you worked, one or two people who would be willing to take a stand, who would be willing to identify with you, who would provide some kind of foothold in that community and allow you the chance to work and organise.”
That is how to build a better world, and that is just what I have experienced in the Journey to Justice that Pat, Martin and Terry’s collective trusteeship helped to create.
The messages
Parul Motin, teacher and trainer with JtoJ and former trustee
Dear Martin, Pat, and Terry, what a triumph, truly. The work you’ve led has created a space for celebration, culture, and for bringing communities and generations together.
In recognition of your efforts, hard work, and dedication on the journey towards justice, I wish you all nothing but continued success. You’ve changed lives, and you continue to inspire so many.
Thank you as well for being part of my journey. Much love, and light, Parul x
Ema Jackson, former trustee of JtoJ
Pat, Martin & Terry – your contribution to JtoJ is immense. A deep thank you and gratitude for the all the hours and hours of energy and time you have poured into this brilliant organisation. The ripple effects of your impact and inspiration will go far beyond what you know. Wishing you all the very best, Ema x
Duncan Moore, JtoJ trustee
Martin, Terry and Pat. You have been exemplary in your dedicated service to Journey to Justice. Touching so many lives and in so doing bringing about transformation across so many diverse communities. You’ve set the bar very high, a standard for which we dare not lower in the future of JtoJ. I am totally indebted to all three of you.
Fevzi and Kate, Communication Workers Union
Dear Martin and Pat, the journey of Journey to Justice is well documented and the change that you have facilitated as a result of your work as trustees is truly notable. We have been very lucky here at the CWU for our paths to have crossed as often as they have and we will forever be grateful to Journey to Justice, to Pat, Martin and Tania for the sessions we jointly did, which were all super impactful.
Professor Sharon Gewirtz, Kings College London
I have loved every minute of working with Martin and Pat (and Tania). In a couple of weeks, Pat and Martin will be facilitating a session with Tania for a Child/Youth Studies Research Network at KCL (my workplace) that I am part of and I would love to have more opportunities to collaborate with them after that.
My experience of working with Pat and Martin has included: as a participant in a train-the-trainers session with Martin; the Young Lives Young Futures film project we collaborated on with Genesis Sun; and a teaching session Pat and Martin did for Voices of Change (a module in the BA Social Sciences at KCL). They are simply two of the most kind, gentle, generous, fun, uplifting and knowledgeable people one could ever hope to hang out, plan, work, and learn with. The work they do with adults and young people alike is simply magical, creating educational spaces that are joyful, inspiring, informative, and challenging in equal measure. These are spaces where participants are made to feel safe and comfortable to build new relationships and strengthen existing ones, to share their perspectives and to learn, develop, take risks and practice important new skills that are relevant to whatever social justice advocacy and action agendas brought them to these spaces in the first place. If my own experience is anything to go by, being part of these magical spaces created by Martin and Pat will have had lasting effects that will have stayed and will continue to stay with participants over the years and that will be carried into – and reproduced in and through – their relationships with others.
