Wolsey resident features in art exhibition

Published by Dani Millward for Quicksilver PR in Housing and also in Communities

The oldest resident of a Leicestershire residential scheme has been featured in a public art exhibition marking the 40^th anniversary of the expulsion of Asians from Uganda in 1972.

Mr Thobhani, 98, fled Uganda when Idi Amin came to power and now lives at asra Housing Group’s Extra Care property the Wolsey Building in Leicester.

He was photographed by award-winning Indian photo-journalist Pablo Bartholomew, who specialises in photographing members of Asian communities in their adopted countries.

The public art project, titled ‘Side by Side’ saw photographs of four members of the city’s Asian community displayed on commercial billboards around the city, including locations on Gypsy Lane, Humberstone Road and Abbey Park Road.

Mr Thobhani said: “I was happy to be photographed for the project to help raise awareness of the Asian community. Everything we owned was left back in Uganda and I’m still grateful for the support and welcome we received when we arrived in theUK.”

Estelle Williamson, Extra Care scheme manager at asra Housing Group, said:  “The exhibition has been really well received across the community.  At the Wolsey Building, we work hard to make sure everyone is treated as an individual and this exhibition serves to remind everyone that every member of the community has their own stories and experiences to share.”

Mr Thobhani is still fighting for compensation and intends to donate any proceeds to charity.

‘Side by Side’ was organised by Autograph ABP – a charity working internationally to educate the public through photography on issues of cultural identity and human rights – and Leicester Arts and Museum Services.