Black History Month: Hyacinth Jarrett

To celebrate Black History Month, FWN are publishing a series of articles on inspiring black women from History. Jackie Taylor writes about Hyacinth Jarrett.

Born in Mandeville, Jamaica in 1932 Mrs Hyacinth Jarrett travelled to England in 1956. She embarked on a career of Nursing but soon realised that she had a gift for hairdressing, establishing her own business Jarrett’s Hairdressers in 1970. Mrs Jarrett soon became an expert in Black, European and Asian hair and styling. Eager to pass on her skills Mrs Jarrett turned author. The Black Hairdressing and Beauty Training Manual conveyed knowledge she had accumulated over the many years of being in the beauty industry.

Answering the call, Mrs Jarrett was head hunted to be an advisor on hairdressing training courses, ensuring that black hair styling was incorporated into the national training syllabus. Teaching hairdressing skills didn’t stop there. Mrs Jarrett worked on the distant learning program in joint projects between Britain and France and also the Training Board.

Establishing the first a bespoke Black hairdressing training course with Birmingham City College (Handsworth) she inspired many a student to establish their own businesses.

Recognition came from far and wide with invites from The Netherlands, Finland and Portugal after she supported with the creation of the Level 4 Foundation hairdressing syllabus with London University, regularly visiting the Caribbean member of the business delegations, winning several awards during her long career including Business Federation Award the Chamber of Commerce overseas Business Award, Lifetime achievement Award from City College, The Birmingham Heroes Award, the Black Country African Caribbean Business Federation Award the Chamber of Commerce overseas Business Award and the Lifetime achievement Award from City College.

Mrs Jarrett is featured in the Black Country Roots book which is a chronicle of the experiences of African Caribbean people in the Black Country.

A fonder member of West Bromwich African Caribbean Resource Centre based in West Bromwich since 1985 Mrs Jarrett has held various positions and continues to support the Centre.

Standing Firm in Power and Pride we in the West Midlands and particularly Sandwell are very Proud of Mrs Hyacinth Jarrett.

Loved and Respected we wish her well.