Former England cricketer Roland Butcher – who became the first Black cricketer to represent the national team – is set to give a talk as part of a special event at the University of Bedfordshire to mark Black History Month.
Taking place on Tuesday 21 October 2025 at the Postgraduate Centre, Luton Campus, the event – Breaking Barriers: Barbados to England… and Back – will highlight Roland’s historic journey as the first Black cricketer to represent England, and his continued contributions to sport and community.
Roland will reflect on his life growing up in Barbados, his move to England, and the challenges he faced breaking barriers in international cricket. His talk will explore themes of identity, representation, and perseverance, while also celebrating the role of sport in inspiring positive social change.
This event is free to attend and open to the public. Click here to register for your space on Eventbrite.
Alongside Roland’s talk, the event will feature a Virtual Reality demonstration led by Dr Lionel Jayaraj, Lecturer in Games (Visual Effects and Animation) at the University. This innovative project brings Roland’s story to life through AI characterisation and offers attendees a unique VR cricket coaching experience.
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Event Disclaimer:
Step Forward Luton is not affiliated with the event organisers and disclaims any liability for inaccuracies or discrepancies in the provided information. Please contact the event organisers for more information. If you spot any errors email hello@stepforwardluton.co.uk.
