Clovis Salmon – Sam the Wheels – one of Brixton’s most notable and inspiring characters and an icon of British history has died at the age of 98.
Official recognition of his contribution to society, history, cycling, and documentary filmmaking came late in life for the long-time resident of Railton Road.
He was awarded an OBE for services to culture and to the Black community in the 2024 New Years Honours.
Last year he received a lifetime achievement award at the National Diversity Awards in Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral.
Responding to the award, he said: “For the Black community in particular, I’ve helped capture not just our challenges, but also our strength, resilience and accomplishments.
“When I see how my work has inspired younger generations to take pride in their heritage, continue the fight for justice, and tell their own stories, it fills me with joy.
“I’ve always believed in the power of stories to bring people together, to bridge divides, and to create unity – no matter our race or background.
“Winning the National Diversity Lifetime Achiever Award is an incredible honour, but the real reward has always been seeing how my work has helped bring people closer, created conversations and sparked a deeper appreciation for the rich diversity of life in this country.
“My hope is that the legacy of these films will continue to inspire and educate for many years to come. As I am in the twilight of my years, I am deeply content knowing that the work I’ve done has made a lasting impact and will continue to influence future generations.”
Clovis Salmon said his work as a filmmaker began in 1959 when he decided to buy a projector.
“Back then, I knew very little about filmmaking, but something about it called to me,” he said.
“I’d watched films on television and that sparked a curiosity to learn more. So, I took the leap and bought that projector!
“I taught myself how to use it, learning by trial and error. There were many mistakes, but with each one my determination grew stronger.
“I spent countless hours practising, figuring things out as I went, until I finally mastered it. Looking back, I believe it was God’s purpose for my life, as if I was meant to capture those stories that so often went unnoticed.
“It wasn’t planned, but it turned into a journey I never could have imagined.”
Clovis Salmon had left Jamaica in 1954, heeding Britain’s call to Commonwealth countries to help rebuild post-war Britain.
His first job was at Claud Butler bicycles on Clapham Manor Street.
He captured the Brixton Uprising of 1981 with a Super 8 film camera concealed beneath his overcoat.
His reportage continues to feature in major documentaries and is archived at institutions like the BBC and British Film Institute.
Some of his films were in evidence at a small ceremony late last year at Brixton Cycles organised by Carol Wilson-Frith of the Carmen Constantine Legacy Foundation.
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 given the venue.
Clovis Salmon was “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 her organisation had honoured Clovis Salmon for his documentary filming of gospel music.
Tim 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.”
An inspiring and spellbinding presence at the Big Caribbean Lunch (BCL) events that celebrate Windrush Day, 22 June, in Brixton’s Windrush Square, his story will feature at this Sunday’s event.
In a tribute, BCL organisers said: “For decades, Sam recorded everyday life with quiet dedication – from Notting Hill Carnival to family celebrations, political marches to community events – leaving behind a vital visual history of Black British life.
“His passion for storytelling gave voice to a generation and preserved the beauty, struggle, and resilience of the Windrush legacy.
“A humble hero on two wheels, Sam was not only a witness to history – he was part of it.”
A lovely tribute.
May this pioneering gentleman rest in eternal peace.
Hopefully, you can also cover his funeral, as his death has been totally ignored by other so called local community news websites.