This lion of a man Robert “Doc” Sampson has passed. A Mangrove man from his toes to the tip of his maccka dreads. We worked together for years and Doc was a real black power solider. Loyal to Frank Crichlow he worked as part of the Mangrove core team often travelling with us to Toxteth, Moss Side, Handsworth, St Paul’s and more.

He was a bull of a man but don’t make this 6ft plus dread fool you, he was from high society family in Trinidad, very well educated and a keen student of politics and black resistence.

He, I, Frank Crichlow, Jebb Johnson, Blues, Carol Scott, Yvette Williams, Bernice Francois, Cheddar, Monster, Terry these and many more were the hard core Solider’s.

We faced down racist police officers, ran All Saints Road and surrounding areas and was the real resistence to police oppression.

Doc was also our archivist - he filmed everything we did way before the smartphone generation.

His massive frame, his salt and pepper Mackka dreads, his broad Trini accent and his absolute fearlessness in the face of racist police officers or fascists was relentless. He was an uncompromising African man who was prepared to die for the struggle.

He and people like Alex Bennett formed part of the core team.

Say goodby to Doc the original Buffulo Solider. Another original Mangrove hero of immense proportions.

May he rest in Black revolutionary peace and may the ancestors greet him with a ten thousand steel pan and drum chorus.

Rise him up this giant of a man. He deserves and will receive the full Mangrove Five star black salute. #rip #robertsampson Joel O'Loughlin David Weaver Ishmahil Blagrove Mangrove Steel Band The Tabernacle w11 NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL Alex Bennett Gregor Forde

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