A Major Milestone in Our Mission to Reclaim a Forgotten Revolutionary
It is with profound excitement that the Elizabeth Heyrick Society welcomes David Olusoga OBE as our Founding Patron. David’s unparalleled contribution to British public life as a historian, broadcaster, and author makes him a natural, powerful, and principled advocate for our cause: to restore Elizabeth Heyrick to her rightful place in the national memory as a visionary, activist, and abolitionist of extraordinary courage.
Why David Olusoga?
David Olusoga has spent much of his career making visible the lives and struggles that history has often ignored. From the landmark BBC series “Britain’s Forgotten Slave Owners” to his award-winning books like Black and British, David has built a body of work rooted in critical re-examination, restorative truth-telling, and public education.
These same ideals underpin the Elizabeth Heyrick Society. We exist to amplify the legacy of a woman who, in 1824, called for the immediate abolition of slavery at a time when even Wilberforce and Clarkson hesitated. Heyrick’s “Immediate, not Gradual Abolition” pamphlet was a lightning bolt in the abolitionist movement—and a direct challenge to the political orthodoxies of her day.
To have his support, therefore, is no mere endorsement; it is a recognition that Elizabeth Heyrick’s story matters—not just as a historical curiosity, but as a galvanising narrative for justice today.
A Meeting of Minds and Missions
The Elizabeth Heyrick Society was founded to address a glaring gap in Britain’s public consciousness: the near-total erasure of a woman whose radicalism, intellect, and bravery fundamentally changed the course of abolition. We are campaigning to:
1) Erect a statue of Elizabeth Heyrick in Leicester, the city of her birth and activism.
2) Create world-class educational resources to embed her story in classrooms and communities.
David’s body of work speaks directly to these aims. His commitment to decolonising history, engaging younger audiences, and making history a tool of empowerment sits at the heart of our own objectives.
Reclaiming Elizabeth: The Stakes Are High
That Elizabeth Heyrick is not already a household name is not a reflection of her importance—but of whose stories have historically been allowed to flourish. A woman, a Quaker, and a campaigner who bypassed Parliament to mobilise the British public directly, Heyrick has long sat in the margins of textbooks and curricula.
But times are changing.
We are witnessing a global appetite for inclusive historical narratives—ones that do not shy away from complexity, gender, race, or activism. Elizabeth Heyrick’s story, with its defiance of 19th-century gender norms and its call for immediate justice, is exactly the kind of history our generation needs.
David’s appointment accelerates our ability to meet this moment with ambition, depth, and reach.
What Comes Next: From Statues to Schools
With David Olusoga as our Founding Patron, we are better positioned than ever to bring our vision to life. In the coming months, we will:
1) Launch an educational content programme, including teacher-led workshops, school packs, and digital storytelling resources.
2) Push forward our public fundraising campaign for the Leicester statue, seeking donors, institutional partners, and community stakeholders.
Our goal is nothing short of transformation. We want Elizabeth Heyrick to be taught alongside William Wilberforce and Thomas Clarkson; for her name to enter the civic vocabulary of Britain as someone who fought—and won—against injustice.
A Final Word: Legacy as a Living Force
History is not inert. It is a live resource, a moral compass, and a toolkit for action. David Olusoga understands this. So did Elizabeth Heyrick. Their lives, separated by centuries, are connected by a shared belief that silence is complicity and that truth, when spoken boldly, can change the world.
With David by our side, the Elizabeth Heyrick Society is better equipped than ever to build a future in which radical women are remembered not as footnotes—but as forces.
Let the work continue.
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