Clovis Salmon, famous to generations of Brixtonians as Sam the Wheels with the bicycle sculpture in his Railton Road front garden, is now also known in high places.
A year ago he was awarded an OBE for services to culture and to the Black community. More recently, he received a lifetime achievement award at the National Diversity Awards in Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral, presented by diversity awards founder Paul Sesay and journalist Clare Balding.
At 97 and a Windrush pioneer, he has an immense store of experience and achievement going far beyond his almost unbelievable ability as a bicycle engineer.
Some of it was in evidence recently at a small ceremony at Brixton Cycles on Brixton Road organised by Carol Wilson-Frith of the Carmen Constantine Legacy Foundation.
A long-time documentary-maker, Clovis Salmon filmed the 1981 Brixton Uprising, centred on Railton Road, with a Super 8 film camera hidden beneath his overcoat. He was also a church deacon and preacher.
But it was his ability to “build” a bicycle wheel faster and better than anyone had believed possible before he did it that was naturally the focus at Brixton Cycles.
He was also “inspirational and aspirational” as a person said Lincoln Romain a long-time member of the Brixton Cycles Workers Cooperative.
Arthur Torrington, founder, with Sam King, of the Windrush Foundation, and Jak Beula of the Nubian Jak Community Trust, also paid tribute.
Juliet Fletcher, founder of the Gospel Music Industry Association, recalled that hers was the first of what are now many organisations to honour Clovis Salmon with an award – for his documentary filming of gospel music.
Tom Clifford, one of the founders of Brixton Cycles, said he remembered the day Clovis first walked into Brixton Cycles in 1983.
“You had a wheel in your hand. You threw it on the floor, stamped on the rim [to show its strength], and just said to me: ‘I am the greatest wheel builder you will ever meet’.
“That demonstration was a show-stopper. We were sold immediately. Nobody built wheels as quick and nobody built them as strong.”
